Transfer Centre

Manchester United 'failed with loan approach for Ryan Gravenberch'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 01 February 2023

Man United 'failed with loan approach for Ryan Gravenberch'

Bayern Munich reportedly rejected a loan offer from Manchester United for Ryan Gravenberch before allowing Marcel Sabitzer to move to Old Trafford.

Bayern Munich reportedly rejected a loan offer from Manchester United for Ryan Gravenberch before allowing Marcel Sabitzer to move to Old Trafford for the remainder of the campaign.

On Tuesday night, the Red Devils announced that they had come to an agreement with Bayern to sign Austria international Sabitzer on loan for the second half of the season.

Man United had allegedly not been planning to sign another player on deadline day, but news of the seriousness of Christian Eriksen's ankle injury forced them into action.

Eriksen is set to be out until at least the end of April with the issue that he suffered during the FA Cup victory over Reading on Saturday night.

Meanwhile, Scott McTominay is also currently on the sidelines, with the Scotland international not expected to be available for at least a couple of weeks.

Bayern Munich's Marcel Sabitzer during the warm up before the match on September 11, 2021 © Reuters

The midfield injuries saw Man United enter the market to sign Sabitzer, but according to The Independent, the Red Devils first failed with a loan move for Gravenberch.

The Netherlands international is familiar to Man United head coach Erik ten Hag following their time together at Ajax, with the midfielder spending four years in the first team for the Amsterdam giants.

Gravenberch had been linked with a move to Old Trafford last summer, but Bayern won the race for his signature, securing his services on a five-year contract.

The 20-year-old has made 19 appearances for the German giants during the 2022-23 campaign, contributing one goal and one assist in the process.

However, the defensive midfielder is yet to start in the Bundesliga this term, and there have been claims that he is frustrated how the season has developed thus far.

Netherlands' Ryan Gravenberch pictured in June 2021 © Reuters

Man United ultimately ended the January market with three loan signings, as Sabitzer followed Crystal Palace's Jack Butland and Burnley's Wout Weghorst to the club.

A report on deadline day claimed that Ten Hag's side had been in touch with Eintracht Frankfurt to discuss the possibility of signing Daichi Kamada, but the Japan international ultimately remained in Germany.

Man United could potentially reignite their interest in Kamada this summer, while a big-money centre-forward is expected to arrive, but a lot of the club's business in terms of incomings will depend on how well they sell.

The 20-time English champions will be bidding to book their spot in the EFL Cup final when they welcome Nottingham Forest to Old Trafford for the second leg of their semi-final on Wednesday night, boasting a 3-0 lead from the first leg last week.