Manchester United are ready to open talks with young midfielder Hannibal Mejbri over a new contract at Old Trafford, after he worked his way into Erik ten Hag’s plans in recent weeks.
The midfielder scored his first Manchester United goal in the defeat to Brighton and alongside fellow young star Kobbie Mainoo the club are hoping that they have uncovered a pair of midfield gems.
Now, they want to keep them.
As per the Manchester Evening News, the Red Devils are planning on holding contract talks with Hannibal in the coming weeks, which should extend his time at Old Trafford before his current contract expiry date of 2024, though the club have an option to add a further year to that.
It will also see him handed a pay-rise in keeping with his newfound importance to Erik ten Hag’s side. He has been in the last four squads and appears to have leapfrogged Donny van de Beek in recent weeks, with the Dutchman an unused substitute in the win over Burnley.
They add that ‘United do not regard Mejbri’s future as an urgent issue due to the maximum expiry date of his deal but the club plan to progress with discussions over a renewal in the near future.’
Though he completed just his first full game as a Manchester United player in the 1-0 win over Burnley, the Tunisian midfielder is already a firm favourite of Ten Hag’s, who was keen to praise the youngster after the win.
“We brought some energy in the team,” Ten Hag explained. “The pressing of Rasmus Hojlund and Hannibal, the togetherness, how they start the moments of the pressing, the timing was very good. The togetherness with Bruno and Rashy was very good.
“We controlled the game in that spell because they started the pressing so well and once they were beaten, there was a recovery and Hannibal did that very good.”
The Red Devils face a Carabao Cup clash with Crystal Palace on Tuesday evening, which Hannibal is expected to feature in as he continues to be handed chances by Ten Hag.
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