Everton launch hijack attempt on Hannibal Mejbri loan move from Manchester United – Fabrizio Romano
Everton are now trying to hijack Hannibal Mejbri’s loan move from Manchester United to Sevilla, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The Italian journalist reported via Twitter on 6 January that contacts were taking place the same day for the midfielder to head to La Liga but the Toffees are showing late interest.
The 20-year-old now has the decision in his hands as to where he goes with Sean Dyche’s side suddenly in the running for a January arrival.
Romano wrote: “Everton are trying to hijack Sevilla loan move for Hannibal Mejbri as contacts are taking place today.
“Hannibal picked Sevilla over Freiburg and OL — still in talks with Man United, nothing done… but Everton are now also showing interest.
“Up to Hannibal now.”
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Hannibal appeared to have made his mind up by choosing the Spanish side over Freiburg and Lyon but Everton might now be the more attractive option.
If he has designs on making it in the Premier League at Old Trafford then more playing time in the same division may hold an attraction for him.
It is late in the day for the Toffees to jump into the running if they were interested in the young Tunisian, but with Abdoulaye Doucouré’s injury absence currently proving ruinous to the club’s form it may be a recent decision.
The youngster has only made nine senior appearances for Manchester United this season, with just five in the top flight where he has scored once.
So if he is viewed as an option to provide much-needed support in the attacking midfield role he could get a much greater opportunity at Goodison Park over the second half of the campaign.
It may be that he sticks with his original decision and heads to La Liga, which would presumably be a frustration to Dyche, but if this late arrival on the scene is backed by some belief of success then perhaps there will be an addition to the Toffees squad sooner rather than later.
In other Everton news, a seven-figure permanent exit for one first-team player has been tipped as possible this month with a Premier League club eyeing a move.