- Man United have a number of players out of contract next summer
- One of them is a promising midfielder, and they are set to extend his contract
- Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’
Manchester United are expected to take up their option to one of their midfield stars a one-year contract extension, according to reports.
The player’s deal is set to expire next summer, but United have a clause in his contract that allows them to extend his stay at the club for a further 12 months.
They are set to trigger this to keep him at Old Trafford until at least 2025, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The player in question is Hannibal Mejbri, and this will give Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff time to decide whether he warrants a long-term deal or whether he could be moved on in the coming months.
The 20-year-old joined United from Monaco in 2019, and went on to feature for the Under 18s, 19s and 21s.
Hannibal Mejbri (pictured) is set to be given a one-year contract extension by Man United
Erik ten Hag will buy himself some more time before deciding whether Hannibal warrants a long-term deal
After struggling for first-team football, he was sent out on loan to Championship outfit Birmingham City last term, and made 41 appearances for the club.
He returned to United this summer, and has played four times for Ten Hag’s men across all competitions.
He netted his first goal for the Red Devils last month, but it proved to be a consolation as the team lost 3-1 at home to Brighton.
He appears to have impressed Ten Hag, and now looks set to be given time to prove he can be a long-term option in midfield for United.
Hannibal is one of a number of United stars currently out of contract next year.
First-team regulars Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof are also expected to get one-year extensions to their deals, but doubts remain over Anthony Martial’s future.
Martial has spent eight years at United, but injuries and inconsistent form have prevented him from being a regular in the starting XI.
He has six appearances to his name in the top flight this season, but is yet to find the back of the net, and seems to have slipped further…