Manchester United stance on Tahith Chong transfer as Hannibal Mejbri delays contract extension

Manchester United could allow two of their academy youngsters to join Championship side Birmingham City before the deadline day of the summer transfer window. Erik ten Hag’s side had already agreed to send Hannibal Mejbri on a season-long loan to St. Andrew’s and reports suggest John Eustace’s side are also interested in a deal to sign Tahith Chong.

The Manchester Evening News revealed earlier in the month that Hannibal had agreed to join Birmingham for the current season, while the club are open to selling Chong now that he has entered the final year of his contract.

The 22-year-old forward was included in Ten Hag ‘s pre-season tour squad but remains down the pecking order ahead of a proposed move to sign Antony from Ajax. It is understood that while Birmingham might be interested in a deal for Chong, there is nothing advanced at this stage regarding his departure.

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One player certainly making the move to the Midlands, though, is midfielder Hannibal. The 19-year-old agreed to an exit weeks ago and will leave United without signing a contract extension offered to him as part of his loan package.

His parent club were keen to tie him down to a new extended deal before he departed on loan, but he will instead leave the club without accepting it.

United sources remain relaxed about the situation and insist talks will continue over a new deal while he is plying his trade in the Championship this season. The Tunisian teenager only signed a new contract at the club in May last year, committing his future to the club until 2024, with the option of an additional year.

United have a good working relationship with Birmingham, having sent academy duo Teden Mengi and Chong on loan to St. Andrew’s last season. Chong scored once and assisted two goals in 16 starts for the Blues, having had his season interrupted by a four-month layoff due to groin surgery.

The youngster joined United when he was 16 from Feyenoord’s academy in 2016 and he made his debut against Reading in the FA Cup third round in January 2019. He has not played competitively for United since the Europa League last-16 second leg against LASK in August 2020.

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