After signing midfielder Marcel Sabitzer on loan from Bayern Munich on transfer deadline day, it has been that claimed that Manchester United were initially interested in a different player to the one they got from the German giants.
United brought in only three players in the January transfer window, namely back-up goalkeeper Jack Butland, striker Wout Weghorst and Sabitzer, all on loan.
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The latter arrived on deadline day as a replacement for midfielder Christian Eriksen after the Dane was ruled out until "late April or early May" due to injury, as the club confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday.
It was initially reported that, after Weghorst made the switch to Manchester, the Red Devils were unlikely to make further signings due to limited funds.
However, the Eriksen situation triggered a reaction from Erik ten Hag's side as they remain in contention for four trophies – the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Europa League, while the Premier League title is still not mathematically out of their reach despite Arsenal leading that race – resulting in them bringing in Sabitzer.
Now, according to Sky Sports, United were actually first interested in signing the Austria international's Bayern teammate Ryan Gravenberch.
It is said the Bundesliga giants refused to entertain any notion of letting the Netherlands international leave, however, with the Red Devils then moving for Sabitzer instead.
Gravenberch has struggled to find his feet in Germany, having played only 617 minutes of football since his €18.5 million (R346 million) move to the Allianz Arena from Ajax Amsterdam in July last year, with the 20-year-old appearing to be behind Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in the club's central midfield pecking order.
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It is believed Ten Hag was keen to rekindle his good relationship with the Dutchman, with Gravenberch playing 103 games under the 53-year-old tactician at Ajax, the most he has featured under any manager so far in his career.
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