Deadline day is always something to behold. It only comes around twice a year, and its frantic nature makes it highly engaging and a prominent part of the footballing calendar.
Hours upon hours will be spent in front of televisions and live streams, with twists and turns synonymous with the closing day of a transfer window making for entertaining viewing.
Restricted by financial constraints as a result of limbo related to uncertainty surrounding the club's ownership, plus Financial Fair Play compliance concerns, Manchester United's deadline day looked to be a quiet one. But you can never be too sure.
Around midday, it was revealed that Christian Eriksen would "likely be out until late April or early May" with an ankle injury sustained against Reading after a rash challenge by Andy Carroll. Erik ten Hag denied the possibility of United signing a temporary replacement, but links with Bayern Munich midfielder Marcel Sabitzer quickly ensued and intensified.
It was just the sort of frenetic storyline typical of deadline day. And it was one that didn't conclude until over an hour after the deadline.
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The news that Eriksen would be absent "for an extended period" drew up vast concern among United fans, especially considering Donny van de Beek's long-term knee injury meant he wouldn't be an option able to deputise in Eriksen's absence.
Since joining the club for free after an opportune piece of summer business, Eriksen has become a crucial part of the furniture in United's main side.
He has started all bar two league matches this term, only finding himself named on the bench once when he has been available. And when he was absent from the squad against Newcastle United, there was a noticeable drop-off.
Featuring in a deeper pair alongside Casemiro, Eriksen hasn't necessarily played in his favoured position. Yet he has still managed seven assists in the Premier League this term, with nine notched across all competitions. His creative value hasn't diminished, and such technical quality from deeper areas has added a welcome dimension to Ten Hag's side.
Eriksen has been an orchestrator with his quality, with his passing ability enabling United to operate on the front foot. He exudes a sense of calmness that resonates around the side when he is on the pitch, enabling control from the side as a whole.
Given his unique skillset, United would have struggled to replace Eriksen with any in-house options. Both Fred and Scott McTominay are industrious in their own ways and can be competent in the secondary midfield role, but technical prowess isn't the forte of either - which United require in a partner for Casemiro.
Youthful alternatives of Zidane Iqbal and Kobbie Mainoo would fit this bracket to a greater extent, but Ten Hag knows how to deal with younger players, as shown with his dealing of Alejandro Garnacho. Burdening any younger player with the responsibility of assuming Eriksen's duty would be unreasonable and could stunt their development.
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Ten Hag often expressed a keenness for the United hierarchy to remain attentive to opportunities across the January window, and that became all the more pertinent with Eriksen confirmed to have picked up a serious injury.
And, as far as so called 'panic buys' go, the acquisition of Sabitzer is shrewd.
He is a good fit in terms of a partner for Casemiro - a box-to-box midfielder by trade. However, his versatility stands out too: he is able to operate both in deeper and more advanced areas and roles. He is more adept to playing in a pivot than Eriksen given the Dane has often played his best football in the No.10 role.
Sabitzer is ideal when it comes to having a player able to effectively knit the side together, with his positional versatility and passing ability seeing him able to link the defence to the attack.
He isn't quite on Eriksen's level in all departments, but Sabitzer certainly has a technical ability superior to the likes of Fred, who was good against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday but struggled to make himself much of a presence in possession.
Sabitzer is an able progressive passer, while a particular staple of his game is his ability to switch play; he has a wide passing range and, while right-footed, is able to play off both feet. He is also able to carry the ball and operate at a high tempo, which is contributed to by an ability to provide quick exchanges.
He isn't a player that shirks the chance for involvement, touching the ball often courtesy of being able to find pockets to pick the ball up in.
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Sabitzer's ball-striking ability is also a lauded part of his game, with an accurate shooting ability from a variety of ranges. He has been known to score some exceptional goals from long range, including via free-kicks, with 52 goals scored from midfield in 229 games for RB Leipzig.
Emphasising the creative value he can hold, Sabitzer provided 42 assists during his time at Leipzig. It was at Leipzig that Sabitzer made a name for himself - a Red Bull-educated player from the summer of 2014 onwards, when he joined Leipzig before spending an initial year at RB Salzburg.
He established himself as an international for Austria and was a big part of Leipzig's rise to prominence, which earned him a move to Bayern Munich ahead of the 2021/22 campaign.
Sabitzer played 54 times for Bayern prior to his loan switch to United, although he started only 20 of those matches and averaged a mere 37 minutes per appearance. His output dwindled as a result of this inconsistent playing time, with only two goals and two assists managed during his time in Munich.
Still, he didn't get a move to Bayern for no apparent reason. And he has only lacked playing time to such an extent due to having the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka ahead of him in the pecking order. There is no shame in falling behind players of that calibre, even if it does point to him maybe not quite being on that same elite level.
Giving him an edge on Eriksen, Sabitzer does offer a greater defensive output than the player he has been brought in to deputise for. He is able to break up play with a high amount of tackles and interceptions, showing an awareness of danger.
He also offers a higher intensity - an energetic player with high levels of stamina which allow him to maintain his level during matches. This is an improvement on Eriksen, who often finds himself withdrawn between the hour and 75-minute marks.
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It is unclear whether Sabitzer will prove to be as effective as Eriksen for United, even if his game is arguably more well-rounded and better suited to operating within a midfield pivot. But it is certainly a necessary signing to avoid any further injuries to midfielders putting Ten Hag in a place of jeopardy.
United's whole operation when it came to getting Sabitzer onboard was impressive. Things escalated quickly, and soon enough he was on a private flight from Munich to Manchester.
It was largely representative of United's efficient January business on the whole considering the financial limitations they were under. They wasted no time in replacing the recalled Martin Dubravka with Jack Butland on loan, while they navigated a complex contractual situation to obtain Wout Weghorst - a player that Ten Hag seemed to desire.
As far as loan options go, Weghorst has proven to be an astute signing from United. He has started every match since arriving at the club, offering a focal point and improving United's link-up play. His relentless commitment to pressing and ability to generally make himself a nuisance has also been helpful to United.
Whether any of the loan signings remain at the club beyond this term is still to be discovered, although Weghorst has already expressed a desire to stay at United if possible. Loan signings are never ideal when there is a view to a long-term project, but successful stint could equate to emergence into good squad players for seasons to come.
The summer should see United make higher profile moves, so long as their ownership situation is sorted through a sale of the club. This includes on the permanent outgoings front to balance the books where necessary, with players only exiting on loan during January - good moves to allow some younger players important senior experience.
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Injury to Eriksen - undisputedly a key part of a successful season for United so far - could have been disastrous. But swift moves from the club have ultimately seen them end up with a suitable replacement (on the face of things) for most of the remainder of the season.
Sabitzer, while not as unique as Eriksen in his skillset, can bring similar levels of experience and should be able to slot straight into the midfield given his well-rounded ability.
He will have to adapt to a new league of course, but for United, this year's January deadline day will hopefully transpire to have been a successful one.
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