Man Utd 'exploring separate Burnley transfer deal' after missing out on Sander Berge

Manchester United and Burnley are reportedly exploring a deal that would take Hannibal Mejbri from Old Trafford to Turf Moor. The Tunisian international is not part of Erik ten Hag’s first-team plans and is set to move on before the summer deadline.

United and Burnley have already been in contact during the current window, with midfielder Sander Berge a player of interest to the Red Devils. But a move for the Norwegian is no longer a possibility as Fulham have agreed a £25million package with the Clarets.

Berge is set to complete his medical with the Cottagers today (Tuesday), leaving United to pursue alternative midfield targets such as Paris Saint-Germain’s Manuel Ugarte.

There are further matters of business to discuss between senior figures at Old Trafford and Turf Moor as Burnley look to snap up Mejbri. According to The Athletic, a season-long loan and a permanent move are both topics of discussion.

Mejbri only has one year remaining on his United contract, which would allow him to leave as a free agent in 2025 if he spends this campaign on loan with the Clarets.

The 21-year-old is an experienced campaigner in the Championship, having been a regular fixture during a temporary stint at Birmingham City in 2022/23. Mejbri, who boasts 27 caps for Tunisia on his CV, scored once in 41 appearances for the Blues.

The youngster spent the second part of last season on loan at Sevilla but failed to establish himself as a regular in the starting XI, and the Spanish side ultimately opted out of paying his £17million option-to-buy clause.

Mejbri was snapped up from AS Monaco’s academy by United as a teenager and has made 13 senior appearances for the Red Devils. It remains to be seen whether he will be getting comfortable in claret and blue by the time Burnley face Sunderland this weekend.

United could lose other midfielders before the end of the window, with Christian Eriksen on the chopping block and interest shown in Scott McTominay. Sofyan Amrabat, who spent last term on loan with the Red Devils, has been sent back to Fiorentina, with Donny van de Beek sold to Girona.

Van de Beek’s cut-price sale was one of several eye-watering losses shouldered by United this summer. Raphael Varane left for free, three years after arriving for £34m, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s move to West Ham recouped only £15m of the £50m United signed him for in 2019.