Burnley are “interested in signing” Hannibal Mejbri with Manchester United open to their midfielder’s departure this summer, according to a report.
The Athletic reveal the Championship side, who spent last season in the Premier League, are considering either a “loan deal or a permanent transfer” for the 21-year-old who has fallen down the pecking order under Erik ten Hag.
At the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Mejbri produced a performance the Dutchman described as “perfect” against, ironically, Burnley, as United ran out 0-1 winners at Turf Moor in September. However, the Tunisian international was unable to build on this positive display, eventually leaving Old Trafford on loan at the end of the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old joined Liga side Sevilla, despite interest from Everton, and endured a miserable loan experience. He played only six times in the league for his newly adopted side after a public dispute with manager Quique Sanchez Florez.
The loan include a buy clause which Sevilla chose not to activate and Mejbri returned to Manchester at the beginning of the summer.
The midfielder has only twelve months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford and will be able to speak to other clubs about a free transfer from January. As such, this transfer window represents United’s last opportunity to command a fee for a player they paid Monaco £9.3 million for in 2019.
The club is open to Mejbri’s departure as they seek to generate funds to continue an overhaul of Ten Hag’s squad. His status as an academy player makes his potential sale an attractive one from a financial fair play perspective.
Burnley began life back in the Championship with aplomb as they beat Luton Town 4-1 on opening day before demolishing Cardiff City 5-0 a week later. They travel to Sunderland this weekend.
Last night, as relayed by The Peoples Person here, it was confirmed the Clarets had agreed to sell Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge to Fulham for a fee worth a potential £25 million.
United had themselves been linked with a move for Berge but he was always considered a back-up option to the first-choice target of Manuel Ugarte – PSG’s Uruguayan defensive midfielder.
However, Berge’s departure from Turf Moor leaves a gap in Scott Parker’s midfield of a midfielder who combines physicality with technical ability on the ball; which is why their emerging interest in Mejbri makes since given the Tunisian’s profile as a midfielder.
United are unlikely to be interested in a loan offer for the 21-year-old given his contractual situation but may be willing to entertain a cheaper-than-expected price for a permanent move as the summer window moves into its final stages.
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