Erik ten Hag has the perfect replacement for Mason Mount at Manchester United

Manchester United had high hopes for Hannibal Mejbri following his arrival from AS Monaco in 2019.

John Murtough was instrumental in United beating rival clubs to Hannibal’s signature, with the Reds paying a fee of £10million for the youngster.

Hannibal’s quality has never been in question. He has been excellent in the Premer League 2 and in the UEFA Youth League, but it's clear he has outgrown youth-level football.

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Last season's loan spell at Birmingham City was a success, with the Tunisia international featuring 38 times in the Championship. MEN Sport revealed earlier this summer that Borussia Dortmund were considering a €15m move for Hannibal but he remained at Old Trafford.

While there was very little to be optimistic about following Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Brighton, Hannibal’s strike from the best part of 25 yards out - his first for the senior team - did provide a small reason to smile and can’t have come as a surprise to those who’ve tracked the youngster's progress since moving to England.

Erik ten Hag worked hard to bolster his midfield options this summer, with Sofyan Amrabat and Mason Mount both arriving at the club. However, with the aforementioned pair both out injured, joining Kobbie Mainoo in the treatment room, Ten Hag's midfield options are currently limited to Bruno Fernandes, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Scott McTominay. It's time he gave Hannibal his chance.

Hannibal possesses more on-the-ball quality than McTominay and can drive the team forward. In his short cameo on Saturday, the former Monaco man brought an energy that Eriksen struggles to bring - despite his obvious qualities