Everton trying to hijack United player move as rumours resurface over Onana future

That player is the magnificently named Hannibal Mejbri who it seems is leaving Old Trafford this month to try and get some more playing time.

The 20-year-old youngster was it appeared ready to leave England for Sevilla before Everton apparently stepped in to try and hijack that move.

Mejbri is an attacking midfielder who despite only a few Premier League appearances is already a well-established Tunisian international with more than 20 caps to his name.

Were he to join the Blues, he would team up again with another young midfielder who made the move from Manchester to Merseyside last summer.

That was James Garner of course, who has since become an established first-team regular and arguably one the Toffees best and most consistent performers.

The Tunisian would seem to fit the pattern being established by Director of Football Kevin Thelwell as he seeks talented young players to refresh what was until recently an ageing squad.

His strengths are as a forward-thinking midfielder who likes to get close to the strikers and scores goals making him a similar sort of player to Abdoulaye Doucoure.

While Doucoure has been in excellent form generally since Sean Dyche took over and restored the Mali international to the first-team after he had fallen out of favour under Frank Lampard.

Doucoure signed a one-year contract extension recently but this will run out next summer and so it would make sense for the club to plan for his exit.

Another midfielder who joined Garner and had moved to Everton from Lille the previous summer was Amadou Onana.

The young Belgian star arrived in 2022 when Lampard was still manager and although he has struggled at times, recently his performances have improved.

But almost as soon as he arrived at Goodison Park the reports started that other clubs were interested in him.

And those stories are continuing with further rumours that Onana is on the radar of several other Premier League rivals.

The Blues don't want to let Onana go in this window and it seems highly improbable he will leave this month but who knows if a big enough bid is made.

Given the pressure of games and mounting injuries together with Dominic Calvert-Lewin's red card, it does seem clear that although it will likely be a quiet transfer window, Everton need to consider their options in January.