Burnley have entered into discussions with Manchester United over a possible deal for Tunisian international Hannibal Mejbri, according to Sky Sports.
The Clarets are hoping to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking after suffering relegation last season. The opening two games indicated that they would take some stopping, recording 4-1 and 5-0 wins over Luton Town and Cardiff City respectively. However, they suffered a shock 1-0 defeat against Sunderland at the weekend as the Black Cats moved to the top of the table.
Armed with a significant war chest, there has been plenty of transfer activity at Turf Moor over the summer. The likes of Mike Tressor and Maxime Esteve have both arrived for eight-figure sums, with eight players arriving through the door thus far. Manager Scott Parker is looking to put his stamp on the squad after Vincent Kompany departed for Bayern Munich, and more new arrivals could materialise before the transfer window closes on Friday.
One player linked with a move to the Lancashire-based side is Hannibal Mejbri. News of Burnley’s interest emerged last week, with Scottish giants Rangers also named as potential suitors. The 21-year-old looks set to depart Old Trafford this week, with the Red Devils keen to receive a fee rather than lose him for free next summer.
Mejbri is in the final year of his contract and spent the second half of last season on loan at Sevilla. The temporary move included an option to buy for £15 million, but the Spaniards decided not to activate the clause after making just one start for the club.
A move to the Championship looks likely after Rangers failure to qualify for the Champions League seemingly put them out of contention, at least according to Football Insider. This has opened up an opportunity for Burnley, with Sky Sports claiming that talks are ongoing regarding the structure of the deal and sell-on clauses.
The midfielder joined Manchester United in 2019 from Monaco and made his debut in 2021. The first half of last season was his most fruitful at the Theatre of Dreams, where he made 10 appearances in all competitions prior to his move to La Liga.
Writer’s View
Hannibal would be a fantastic signing for Burnley. He has been highly rated at Manchester United over the years but has become increasingly frustrated with his lack of first team opportunities. As such, it is likely he will leave the club before the week ends.
Mejbri will add bite and aggression to Scott Parker’s midfield and already has experience in the Championship having enjoyed a successful loan spell with Birmingham City during the 2022/23 season. Although he will see himself as a player that can play at a higher level, Burnley are a club that should be back in the Premier League next season, which will undoubtedly play a role in his decision.
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