Manchester United is close to a temporary transfer of Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer.
After the club confirmed that Christian Eriksen was out of the game for up to 12 weeks due to an injury sustained during the FA Cup match against Reading, Erik ten Hag turned to the Austrian.
Zabitzer has been spotted at Munich airport rushing on time to secure a move to Old Trafford before the transfer deadline.
Judging by Sabister’s initial numbers, United fans should be excited at the prospect of the 28-year-old going about his business in the “Theater of Dreams.”
Sabitzer will most likely take Eriksen’s position, that is, he will be in the center of the field next to Casemiro, and Bruno Fernandes will be ahead of them in the role of playmaker.
From the point of view of the defensive aspect of the game, Zabitzer’s statistics are much more impressive than Eriksen’s.
The Bayern Munich star wins 3.06 ball selections in 90 minutes compared to Eriksen’s paltry 0.89 selections per game. In this statistic, Zabitzer ranks 92nd among the midfielders in Europe.
He also wins 1.84 selections per game against Eriksen’s 0.54. The same trend is true for other defensive indicators, such as the number of captured dribblers, contested dribblers and ball takeaways.
Zabitzer is also statistically better than Eriksen in interception. The Austrian national team player averages 1.23 interceptions in 90 minutes against 0.6 for Eriksen.
In defense, the 14th number of United is better than Sabitzer only in blocked passes and blocked shots.
There is little that can separate the two midfielders in the transitional phases of the game. Zabitzer makes an average of two more passes than Eriksen (50 for 90).
Sabitzer’s transmission accuracy is higher — 84.4% versus 78.2% for Eriksen.
The Danish maestro of United boasts slightly better indicators for assists and key passes. Eriksen performs almost twice as many final third passes as Sabitzer.
The profile is definitely similar. pic.twitter.com/GaKIHqjPvQ
— Frank 🧠🇳🇱 (@TenHagEra) January 31, 2023
Two men register approximately the same number of touches per game for their clubs. However, in possession of the ball, Zabitzer surpasses Eriksen in dribbling.
Sabitzer definitely excels in controlling play too, this signing may do wonders. pic.twitter.com/vT77PGZMra
— Frank 🧠🇳🇱 (@TenHagEra) January 31, 2023
One thing is clear: United are getting a decent replacement for Eriksen. Of course, the Premier League is a much more physical competition than the Bundesliga, but Sabitzer’s numbers paint a picture of a player who has the acumen to stand up for himself in the big time.
