Manchester United could make Marcel Sabitzer's stay at the club permanent at the end of the season, according to a report from ESPN.

The Lowdown: Loan deal agreed

Christian Eriksen is expected to be ruled out until late April or early May with an ankle injury, and so Erik ten Hag moved swiftly to secure a replacement, bringing in Sabitzer on deadline day.

There is no option to buy the midfielder included in the original agreement, but a new report indicates that the Red Devils would be prepared to make his stay permanent.

The Latest: Sabitzer could stay

According to a report from ESPN, United are willing to sign the Austrian this summer, should he impress during his loan spell at Old Trafford, and they have relayed this information to the player, in the hopes of spurring him on.

The report details that the 28-year-old is expected to leave current club Bayern Munich at the end of the season, having fallen down the pecking order at the Allianz Arena.

[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/latest-man-utd-news-11/" title="Latest Man Utd news!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]

The Verdict: Smart move

Giving the 68-time Austria international a goal to strive towards is a smart move from Erik ten Hag, as knowing that a permanent deal is on the line will give him the extra incentive to give it all for the club between now and the end of the season.

Hailed as having a 'great mentality' by Bayern board member Hasan Salihamidzic, the maestro has already impressed on loan, picking up a 7.4 Sofascore rating, the second-highest of any United player, after making three key passes against Leeds.

Sabitzer has proven himself in the Bundesliga, picking up eight goals and four assists for RB Leipzig in the 2020/21 campaign, and now his task will be to show what he can do in the Premier League for the remainder of the season, starting with the trip to Leeds later today.