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Hannibal Mejbri set for Manchester United loan exit, Birmingham in talks - The Athletic
Birmingham City are in talks to sign Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri on loan as they lead a crowded race, The Athletic reports.
The attacking midfielder hasn’t made the squad for either of the senior side’s two Premier League losses so far this season and looks set to join the Championship club for more game time.
West Brom and Middlesbrough are also interested in signing the Tunisian but St Andrew’s currently looks the most likely destination.
Despite the arrival of new manager Erik Ten Hag the club is in disarray for the start of the new season, but there seems to be no place for the teenage Mejbri, who had been used in the preseason by the former Ajax boss.
He has made three appearances for the first team at United and is somewhat of a fans’ favourite for his combative style, but is deemed to require more senior experience in the second tier before he is ready for a greater role.
Mistake?
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Such is the situation at Old Trafford currently it might seem like they are ripe to hand some opportunities to up and coming talent.
The opposite is the case however, with James Garner also possibly set for an exit permanently, although it is hard to see how letting these players leave will improve things.
Overrun 4-0 by Brentford at the weekend there will be plenty of supporters who would argue that the side needed some of the bite that Mejbri brings.
But such is the lack of organisation currently he could just as easily compound an already-difficult situation with a red card.
It may be that the next few weeks or months are set to be a trying experience for United fans either way as they experience growing pains under the new boss, and in some ways Mejbri might be better off out of it if he can return without the added baggage but with greater experience and more rounded player.
With the Red Devils apparently on the brink of signing Juventus misfit Adrien Rabiot to play in the midfield, it seems an expensive and short-sighted move to bring the Frenchman in at the expense of the younger midfield options, but only time will tell.
In other Manchester United news, the club have missed out on a very highly rated transfer target.