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Burnley are “interested” in signing Hannibal Mejbri, with Manchester United open to a move for the player this summer, according to reports.
The Athletic report that the Championship side, who played in the Premier League last season, are considering a “loan or permanent move” for the 21-year-old, who has fallen down the pecking order under manager Erik ten Hag.
The 2023/24 season began with United winning 1-0 against Burnley at Turf Moor in September, ironically producing a performance the Dutchman described as “flawless”. However, the Tunisia international was unable to capitalise on this positive performance and eventually left Old Trafford on loan at the end of the January transfer window.
The 21-year-old joined La Liga side Sevilla despite interest from Everton and enjoyed a disastrous loan spell, playing just six league games for his new side after a public feud with manager Quique Sánchez Flores.
The loan move included a buy clause but Sevilla opted not to activate it, and Mejbri returned to Manchester at the start of the summer.
The midfielder has 12 months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford and can negotiate a free transfer with other clubs from January, meaning this transfer window is United’s final opportunity to claim a fee for the player they paid Monaco for £9.3m in 2019.
The club are willing to let Mejbri leave in order to free up funds to continue Ten Hag’s overhaul of the squad, and his status as an academy product makes his sale attractive from a Financial Fair Play perspective.
Burnley have started their return to the Championship in style, beating Luton Town 4-1 on the opening day and Cardiff City 5-0 a week later, before travelling to Sunderland this weekend.
Reports from The People’s Person last night confirmed that the Clarets have agreed to sell Norwegian midfielder Sander Berge to Fulham for a fee estimated at £25million.
United themselves have been linked with a move for Berge, but he has always been seen as a first-choice back-up to PSG’s Uruguayan defensive midfielder Manuel Ugarte.
However, Berge’s departure from Turf Moor left Scott Parker in need of a midfielder with both physical strength and skill on the ball, and given the Tunisian’s background as a midfielder, it was no surprise that teams were interested in Mejbri.
United are unlikely to be interested in a loan offer for the 21-year-old given his contractual situation, but may be open to a permanent move for a lower than expected price with the summer transfer window approaching its final stages.
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