Transfer Centre

Borussia Dortmund interested in Manchester United's Hannibal Mejbri?

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 22 June 2023

Dortmund interested in Man United's Hannibal Mejbri?

Borussia Dortmund reportedly hold an interest in Manchester United's Hannibal Mejbri, who has made three appearances for the Red Devils' first team.

Borussia Dortmund have apparently registered an interest in signing Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri this summer.

The 20-year-old has only made sporadic appearances for the Red Devils' first team so far but enjoyed a positive loan spell with Birmingham City during the 2022-23 campaign.

Hannibal came up with one goal and six assists in 41 Blues matches across all tournaments, starting 21 Championship games to help Birmingham ensure survival.

The Tunisia international will soon return to Man United's Carrington training complex for pre-season, and his contract with the Red Devils still has three years left to run.

However, it is unclear if Hannibal - who can operate as a central midfielder or number 10 - is in Erik ten Hag's long-term plans, and clubs elsewhere could try to take advantage of the situation.

Birmingham City's Hannibal Mejbri celebrates scoring their first goal on February 10, 2023 © Reuters

According to the Manchester Evening News, Dortmund are among the teams considering a move for Hannibal and are prepared to make a bid of €15m (£12.9m) including add-ons.

The Bundesliga giants have lost Jude Bellingham in an initial £88.5m deal to Real Madrid, while fellow midfielder Mahmoud Dahoud has left for Brighton & Hove Albion.

The report adds that Hannibal will be a given a chance to prove his worth under Ten Hag in pre-season, but the Dutchman is only interested in nurturing "world-class" talents.

As a result, Hannibal could be offloaded if he fails to impress Ten Hag, but the Red Devils could try to sanction another loan exit rather than a permanent move away from Old Trafford.

If the 2003-born lynchpin does leave the club for good, Man United would supposedly look to insert a sell-on clause into any future deal and are aiming to make a profit on the €10m (£8.6m) they shelled out to sign him from Monaco in 2019.

Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag on May 7, 2023 © Reuters

Since swapping Ligue 1 for the Premier League, Hannibal has risen through the academy ranks, setting up 17 goals in 40 games for the Under-21s and making his first-team debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer on the final day of the 2020-21 Premier League season against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

However, the midfielder has only made another two appearances for the Red Devils since, coming off the bench in a 4-0 loss to Liverpool and starting in a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the 2021-22 season under Ralf Rangnick.

Ten Hag was in attendance at Selhurst Park on the final day of the 2021-22 season, but Hannibal failed to make an impression on his first senior start, picking up a yellow card and being taken off after 62 minutes.

Man United are already believed to be on the verge of selling one midfield protege in Zidane Iqbal, who is closing in on a permanent transfer to FC Utrecht for approximately £860,000.

Fred and Scott McTominay are also being linked with exits after falling down the pecking order, while Marcel Sabitzer is unlikely to stay beyond the end of his loan spell from Bayern Munich.