Leeds United and Burnley receive boost in Man United transfer pursuit | OneFootball

Burnley and Leeds United have both been linked with a move for Man United youngster Hannibal Mejbri

Key Takeaways

Leeds United and Burnley have received a boost in their pursuit of Manchester United midfielder Hannibal Mejbri.

According to Football Insider, Rangers’ interest in the player has taken a dent with their failure to qualify for the Champions League.

The financial blow of missing out on the elite European competition means that the Glasgow outfit will now struggle to compete against Championship sides to the Tunisia international’s signature.

Hannibal has been unable to cement himself as a first team regular at the Premier League side after breaking through their academy system.

The 21-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with Sevilla, and is now seeking another exit from Old Trafford in order to earn consistent game time.

Hannibal Mejbri transfer latest

According to the Manchester Evening News, Burnley are interested in signing the playmaker before the window closes this week.

It is understood that Man United’s preference is to sell the player on a permanent basis due to him being in the final year of his contract.

But the Clarets are exploring a loan deal with an obligation to buy clause, with the market set to close on Friday evening.

Burnley face competition from Rangers in the race to sign Hannibal, but they have received a boost from the Premiership side’s failure to qualify for the Champions League.

It is believed that Rangers will need to sell players before being able to make any further signings.

It has been reported by the Daily Mail that Leeds are also interested in the player, as Daniel Farke looks to bolster his midfield options.

Hannibal made six appearances in La Liga last season during his loan spell at Sevilla, having played only five times in the Premier League prior to his January move (all stats from Fbref).

But any deal for Hannibal will need to be finalised before 30 August.

Burnley and Leeds United’s 2024 summer transfer activity

Both Leeds and Burnley will be aiming to compete for promotion this season, which adds extra significance to their interest in the same player.

The Whites have added the likes of Largie Ramazani, Joe Rodon, Jayden Bogle and Joe Rothwell to their squad this summer, as well as a loan move for Bournemouth’s Joe Rothwell.

Meanwhile, Scott Parker has seen the Clarets sign nine new faces, including the likes of Joe Worrall, Andreas Hountondji and Lucas Pires, among others.

Permanent deals were also agreed for Mike Trésor and Maxime Esteve after their stints on loan at Turf Moor last season.

Burnley and Leeds take edge in Hannibal race

Burnley and Leeds should now have the edge over Rangers in the race to sign Hannibal, as they will need to do a lot more work to get a deal over the line.

Hannibal hasn’t quite made it work at Man United, but he has proven himself at a Championship level from his time on loan at Birmingham City.

A loan with an obligation to buy could be a compromise Man United agree to, but the fee will still need to be worth their while.

Man United lack leverage due to Hannibal’s contract situation, which the two Championship clubs can use to their advantage in the final days of the window.