While Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag was no doubt brought in to inspire short-term success, the Dutchman also appears to have a keen eye on building for the future, having been overseeing the club’s U21 side of late.
That hands-on approach to the academy set-up has come amid the 53-year-old having given notable opportunities to Argentine sensation Alejandro Garnacho in the first-team in recent times, while fellow teenager Kobbie Mainoo has also been a regular fixture in the matchday squad of late.
The former Ajax head coach will also no doubt be keeping a close eye on the club’s young talents who are currently flourishing out on loan, however, with Tunisian international Hannibal Mejbri having shown his class at Birmingham City so far this season.
How is Mejbri getting on at Birmingham?
The 20-year-old playmaker has only recently hit the headlines as a result of his stunning, curling free-kick in the win over West Bromwich Albion on Friday night, with the dynamic midfielder showcasing his intelligence to bend the ball around the wall and catch out opposition ‘keeper David Button in the process.
Not only did that moment of genius speak volumes of Mejbri’s confidence to try his luck from distance, but the manner of the strike itself was also hugely impressive, as he expertly whipped his long-range effort into the bottom corner.
That also marked a fine way for the youngster to score his first goal at senior level, having already racked up six assists in all competitions for the Blues so far this term in what is proving a fruitful spell at St Andrew’s.
Unsurprisingly, the former Monaco man – who arrived at Old Trafford on a £9m deal back in 2019 – has since been lauded by manager Josh Eustace, who described him as “awesome” and “unplayable” on the night.
As Eustace acknowledged, there has been “inconsistency” in the midfielder’s game this season, albeit with that seemingly understandable with Mejbri having only made two senior appearances back at his parent club in the previous campaign, including a brief, robust cameo in the defeat away to Liverpool at Anfield.
Although it would clearly be a tough step up to jump from the Championship back into the top tier with United next season, the France-born sensation could well help to bolster a midfield department that is short on depth at present.
Imagine him and Diallo
The 20-cap wonderkid will not be the only asset out on-loan who will be hoping to force his way into Ten Hag’s plans for the 2023/24 campaign, with Amad Diallo having been a leading figure for Sunderland in the second tier this season.
The diminutive winger has been restricted to just nine appearances since his £19m arrival at the Theatre of Dreams in January 2021, although is beginning to showcase why that hefty price tag may have been justified, with seven goals and two assists in 24 games across all fronts this season at his temporary home.
That breakthrough campaign at the Stadium of Light has seen the former Atalanta youth product described as a “wonderful, wonderful footballer” by Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray, having also been lauded as “terrific” by ex-United man Michael Carrick earlier this season.
The aim will likely be for the Ivorian ace to challenge Antony for that right-wing berth this season, with Ten Hag having the prospect of utilising both Amad and Mejbri as quality back-ups in attacking and midfield roles, respectively.
That latter pairing could well grow to become a truly fearsome partnership in the future, with Mejbri – who ranks in the top 1% among his peers in the ‘Men’s next eight competitions’ for assists – able to supply quality service to Amad, who ranks in the top 13% for non-penalty goals to illustrate his finishing prowess.
Although there is no guarantee that either of the two emerging talents will be in the mix for a prominent role at United next term, they do appear to be exciting players for the long term in Manchester.