Fabrizio Romano: Player to decide on Everton transfer, club want buy-back clause included

Hannibal Mejbri is set to decide on whether to join Everton from Manchester United in the January transfer window, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Speaking to GiveMeSport on Monday (8 January), the Italian journalist said the Tunisia international will take his time over whether to sign for the Toffees or make the move to Sevilla, with the Red Devils asking for his entire salary to be covered for a loan switch.

He added that the La Liga club are keen for a buy option to be included in any potential transfer, with Erik ten Hag’s side wanting a buy-back clause written into the deal.

“Everton are in the race for Hannibal, now it’s on the player,” said Romano. “He has to decide whether he wants to go to Sevilla, to respect his word and go to the Spanish side.

Or if he wants to go to Everton, to stay in the Premier League, to go to a different kind of system, different kind of coach also.

“So Hannibal will take his time to decide and it’s also going to be important to see what kind of proposal they will make to Manchester United.

United want the whole salary covered, but it is also important to see what happens with the buy options. Sevilla wanted a buy option included in the deal, United wanted a buy-back clause.

“So there is a deal to structure and it is not something super imminent, and this is why Hannibal will take his time to decide between Everton and Sevilla.”

Make it happen

This is a transfer that Everton should be doing all they can to make sure it happens as Hannibal is a player with plenty of potential.

The midfielder hasn’t had too many opportunities with Man United since signing for their academy from Monaco in 2019, with nine of his 12 appearances for the first team coming this season.

He had an impressive campaign out on loan with Birmingham City in the Championship last year, where he scored one goal and laid on six assists as he put in a number of battling displays in his 41 outings.

The Red Devils clearly feel that he could be a promising player in the future given their reluctance to let him go without including a buy-back clause.

It’s now down to the Toffees to persuade him that they are the right club to help him reach his potential as they look to add younger players to their squad who they could make a profit on in the future.

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