Analysis: Explaining what Marcel Sabitzer will bring to Manchester United

Marcel Sabitzer will join Manchester United on deadline day from Bayern Munich on a six-month loan deal as an extra midfield option.

With the end of the January transfer window fast approaching, it had seemed like United’s winter business would end with striker Wout Weghorst. However, as deadline day arrived, United received some worrying injury news; Christian Eriksen was confirmed to be out until late April, or early May.

This injury news meant United were left with four senior options in midfield, Casemiro, Bruno Fernandes, Fred and Scott McTominay. Youngsters Kobbie Mainoo and Zidane Iqbal are also options for the Red Devils.

The news of Eriksen’s injury, however, sparked Erik ten Hag to push for a last-minute deadline-day move to strengthen his midfield. The man who United went for was Bayern Munich’s Austrian midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.

An experienced player, United will bring Sabitzer into the club on what is rumoured to be a loan, with no option nor obligation to purchase him. Capped 68 times by Austria, he will bring experience, depth and most importantly quality to United’s midfield.

Having spent a lot of his career playing in a pivot, either alone or with a partner, Sabitzer will already be accustomed to the role people assume Ten Hag has brought him in to play. It seems likely he will slot into the midfield next to Casemiro and play as a number eight, a direct replacement for Eriksen.

Here is a more in-depth look at his profile, strengths and what he can bring to Old Trafford.

On the ball

Undoubtedly one of Sabitzer’s best attributes is his excellent range of passing. The Austrian is renowned for playing line-breaking passes when picking the ball up in a deeper position and is also a superb long-distance passer.

This is helped by the fact that he is equally as confident on both feet, although he is naturally right-footed. Sabitzer has constantly shown off his range of passing; when playing in a pivot, at RB Leipzig especially, the midfielder likes to get on the ball in a deeper position and switch the ball to both flanks, or simply progress the ball forward, effectively on both feet.

One thing Eriksen has helped United with massively this season is breaking down low blocks, something the Red Devils have struggled to do in the past few seasons. With Eriksen now unavailable, United will need to sign someone who also possesses the ability to help break down sides that defend deeper.

Sabitzer is someone who can certainly help fill this void, and his ability to switch play efficiently and play clever line-breaking passes will be key when doing this. On average, the 28-year-old averages 4.36 final third passes and 0.95 passes into the penalty area per 90 minutes.

He will bring more creative flair to Old Trafford and will have the likes of Marcus Rashford, Fernandes, Antony and Weghorst ahead of him to pick out.  

The midfielder also has an excellent goal catalogue, particularly with strikes from outside of the area. He has both the ability and confidence to unleash a powerful shot from range and has scored some excellent goals from distance in the past.

However, Sabitzer has also been known to make effective late runs into the box from midfield, add bodies in the opposition penalty area, and attempt to get on the end of cutbacks or crosses.  

The 28-year-old is also a good ball carrier, and completes 60% of his dribbles per 90 minutes, in comparison to Christian Eriksen’s 40.7% per 90 minutes. With that ball-carrying ability, Sabitzer will add something new to this United side that has been missing at times and will elevate United’s ability to beat an opponent’s press and progress the ball forwards.

He is a busy player and enjoys being on the ball in the centre of midfield, looking to progress the ball forward, either by finding a pass or by carrying. He also has a lot of touches in the final third, yet another factor that will help United to break down a low block and create chances.

Sabitzer will have some freedom to roam further up the pitch when playing alongside Casemiro. The Brazilian gives his midfield partners more of a licence to push up and offers security and the ability to break up opposition counterattacks should they be sprung.

Off the ball

Despite this freedom he could get, Sabitzer will be a massive benefit to United off the ball. The Austrian is an engine in midfield. He is a tireless player, who will not stop running until the final whistle. His never-say-die attitude and constant hard work will no doubt be something lauded by the fans at Old Trafford.

As his heatmap from the Bundesliga this season shows, Sabitzer can cover a lot of ground. Whilst this heatmap is for both in and out of possession, it shows how much of a willing runner and hard worker the midfielder is.  

Sabitzer is brilliant at pressing, and his relentless nature will only add to United’s pressing capabilities. The pressing structure Ten Hag is looking to implement at United is an aggressive high press as a unit, where each passing option is covered and the man on the ball is under pressure.

The Austrian will certainly help United press effectively and will improve United’s press overall. He is highly efficient in this sense and will only add quality to United’s press.

Another of Sabitzer’s biggest strengths is his tackling ability. He is an aggressive player, and will not back down from a challenge, although that doesn’t mean he will go into one rashly. He is in the 93^rd percentile for tackles won per 90 minutes across Europe’s top five leagues, with an average of 1.84.

Read More: Who is Marcel Sabitzer? All you need to know about Manchester United’s potential midfield signing

He also attempts a lot of tackles in the final third, and is in the 97^th percentile for that metric, averaging 0.54 per 90. With the likes of Bruno Fernandes also excellent off the ball in the final third, it means United will be able to win more balls in that area, and put teams under pressure with quick turnovers, before springing attacks with progressive passes.

Will he be a success?

Ultimately, this move is a low-risk one for Ten Hag’s side. United are bringing in a quality player who has performed on the biggest stages in his career, including putting in some memorable Champions League performances.

The Red Devils are undoubtedly strengthening the midfield, by bringing in an experienced player who is about to hit the peak of his career. Sabitzer will compensate for what United have lost due to Eriksen’s injury, whilst adding further quality in other areas.

United are also under no pressure to permanently sign the 28-year-old because there is no obligational or optional clause to do so. However, should the loan spell be successful, then the club would probably be best placed to sign him in the summer should they wish.

Overall, signing Sabitzer, something unexpected at the beginning of deadline day, is a smart piece of business. Ten Hag wanted him, and the player wanted United. It could certainly turn out to be an excellent deadline-day move.