Roland Cutinho
German giants Borussia Dortmund plot surprise move for Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri
According to the Manchester Evening News, Borussia Dortmund is expressing interest in bringing Manchester United starlet Hannibal Mejbri to the Westfalenstadion stadium during the ongoing summer transfer window.
The German giants are in search of a midfielder to replace Jude Bellingham, who recently made a record-breaking move to Real Madrid.
The club is considering the possibility of acquiring Mejbri as his replacement. Dortmund, who finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga last season, is reportedly prepared to offer £15 million for his transfer. This proposed fee would also include various performance-related add-ons.
In recent years, Man United and Dortmund have engaged in a series of notable transfers between the two clubs. The most recent one took place in 2021, when Jadon Sancho moved to Old Trafford.
Mejbri, who joined the Red Devils from Monaco in 2019, has garnered admiration from the United fanbase. The fans have closely followed his progress and development since his arrival at the club.
The Tunisian star joined at the age of 17 and steadily advanced through the ranks of the youth team at Carrington. After initially playing for the Under 18s side, he eventually made his debut for the first team in a Premier League match against Wolves two years ago.
Mejbri’s progress in recent seasons has led to his inclusion on the Tunisian national team. He made the decision to switch international allegiances from France and has since made 24 appearances for Tunisia.
The 20-year-old had the opportunity to participate in the Qatar World Cup, where he played for 10 minutes against Denmark in a group stage match.
However, he has had limited opportunities at Man United, making only three senior appearances. He then moved to Birmingham City on loan, and he had a successful loan stint at the Championship club last season.
During his time there, Mejbri played in 41 matches across various competitions, scoring one goal and providing six assists.
Despite interest from Dortmund, Man United may reject any potential transfer offers for Mejbri. Manager Erik ten Hag wants to provide the young player with an opportunity to prove himself during the pre-season period.
The Red Devils are scheduled to embark on a pre-season tour, visiting countries such as Norway, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States.
Mejbri is expected to participate in warm-up games during this tour, and a decision regarding his future at the club will be made based on his performances.
However, instead of opting for a permanent transfer, United may consider a loan deal for the young midfielder. This would provide Mejbri with the chance to gain further experience and development elsewhere while still being a part of United’s long-term plans.
The club is looking to add midfield reinforcements while also making sure that they are planning their outgoings. Ten Hag has made a clear statement regarding his plans by selling Zidane Iqbal to Dutch club FC Utrecht.
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It is quite clear that the Dutch boss would prefer young players with world-class potential rather than holding out on talents who are not performing up to the standards of the club.
Only time will tell whether Mejbri succeeds in impressing the manager and, in turn, gets a lifeline to stay at Old Trafford.
