Man Utd swerve £16m signing as Fabrizio Romano declares ‘here we go’ for alternative midfield move

Marcel Sabitzer is on the verge of joining Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich after his loan spell at Manchester United, according to reports.

Sabitzer spent the second half of last season on loan at Man Utd as cover for Christian Eriksen. He ended up making 18 appearances for Erik ten Hag’s side and scored three goals. However, Man Utd recently made a significant investment to sign Mason Mount from Chelsea in similar territory.

Therefore, the chances of Sabitzer returning to Old Trafford have been in doubt. And now, he is ready to change clubs again.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Man Utd ‘decided against his return weeks ago’. Instead, Sabitzer is set to sign for Borussia Dortmund from Bayern Munich, where his contract was supposed to last for another two years.

The transfer fee will come to €19m, which is just over £16m. It would have been an affordable price for Man Utd – whom Sabitzer was willing to stay with – if they weren’t saving up to invest in a new striker.

But Sabitzer’s fate is now sealed after Romano used his customary ‘here we go’ expression to confirm his move to Dortmund is imminent.

READ MORE: Man Utd swerve £16m signing as Fabrizio Romano declares ‘here we go’ for alternative midfield move

Sky Sports Germany expert Florian Plettenberg was the first to reveal that Sabitzer would be joining Dortmund on a contract until at least 2027 after they reached a ‘total agreement’ on the €19m fee, which will also include add-ons.

Subsequently, he is undergoing his medical before joining Dortmund on their pre-season tour in the USA.

Sabitzer set for new challenge back in Bundesliga

At the age of 29, the deal he is about to sign with Dortmund should cover him for the remainder of the prime of his career.

Things didn’t quite work out for him at Bayern, but before that, he excelled in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. Now, the Austria international will try to get back on track with Dortmund.

It is now evident that his spell with Man Utd in the Premier League was merely a minor interlude in his career as he prepares for the next step.

Man Utd remain in the market for a new midfielder if finances allow, given that there are doubts about the futures of Fred, Scott McTominay and Donny van de Beek.

They will have to find a solution other than Sabitzer, though, to complement the likes of Casemiro, Mount and Christian Eriksen.

Meanwhile, Erik ten Hag has outlined a space in his squad for another emerging midfielder.