Dortmund want €15m Man Utd midfielder to replace Bellingham

Stuart Telford

• 22 Jun 2023 16:32 BST
• 3 min read

Borussia Dortmund want Manchester United youngster Hannibal Mejbri as a potential Jude Bellingham replacement at the Signal Iduna Park according to reports.

Bellingham has joined Real Madrid from Dortmund for an initial €103 million, and although the Bundesliga club will be delighted with the fee, the England international's absence nonetheless leaves a hole in their midfield.

Dortmund have a recent track record of signing Premier League club's academy players - Jadon Sancho before Bellingham, Jamie Bynoe-Gittens since - and they are set to follow that model once again.

READ: Who is Hannibal Mejbri? The French wonderkid tipped for big things at Man Utd

"Borussia Dortmund are interested in a deal to sign Hannibal Mejbri from Manchester United this summer," report the Manchester Evening News.

"It is understood the German side would be prepared to pay a fee in the region of €15 million, which would include performance-related add-ons."

How good is Mejbri?

France-born Mejbri now represents Tunisia at full international level, but the 20-year-old had only made three Premier League appearances for United before being shipped out on loan to Birmingham City at the start of last season.

READ: How much money can Man Utd generate from player sales this summer?

He impressed at St Andrew's, though, playing 38 games and contributing a goal and five assists from midfield despite the club only finishing 17th in the Championship.

Mejbri also averaged two progressive carries per game last season as well as contributing three shot-creating actions per 90 minutes played, suggesting he would be an asset to Dortmund should they acquire him.

Mejbri is valued at just €4.1m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, but €15m could quickly prove a snip if he progresses at Dortmund as Bellingham and Sancho did.

Erik ten Hag is reportedly keen to give the youngster his chance at Old Trafford, however, and he could be given the chance to prove himself on their pre-season tour of Norway, Scotland, Ireland and the USA.