Manchester United duo face uncertain futures with transfer clauses unlikely to be triggered

Manchester United sent a host of players out on loan across the past two transfer windows and it is safe to say that some of them have fared better than others.

Erik ten Hag has insisted on a more hands-on approach with the academy since he joined the club from Ajax, having felt that the U21s had been 'isolated' before his arrival. He now takes an active role in deciding which youngsters train with the first team, with advice from his trusted team of coaches.

United have also adopted a 'smarter' transfer policy when it comes to selling academy graduates, with staff suspecting players will go 'stale and sour' if they remain at the club too long without an opportunity play. It is for those reasons they have looked to move on periphery figures as soon as possible.

Hannibal Mejbri and Alvaro Fernandez are two such examples, but they could both be back at United by the summer amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding their respective futures.

Hannibal joined Sevilla on loan for the remainder of the season back in January and the Spanish club have the option to sign him permanently for £17million, while Benfica have the option to buy Alvaro Fernandez, as well as an obligation to buy him for €6million if he starts 50 per cent of matches he is eligible for.

The Tunisian international has played just 90 minutes in La Liga, across one start and three substitute appearances, with his entourage reportedly in 'disbelief' over his sorry situation. Hannibal had been offered the opportunity to sign for Everton in the January transfer window but turned them down in favour of a move to Sevilla. It was understood at the time that the Spanish club were highly unlikely to ever be able to afford Hannibal's transfer fee even if he had been a success, which begs the question why the deal was sanctioned in the first place.

The 21-year-old will most likely return to United this summer and will have entered the final year of his contract, with it unlikely that he will sign a new one unless assurances are made over his playing time. United will want to avoid a loss on the £9.3 million they paid Monaco for him back in 2019 but will find it difficult to recoup such a fee for him after a poor loan spell. It could well mean another low transfer fee is agreed, with a high sell-on fee and buyback clause included instead.

That could well be the same case for Fernandez, who was slammed by Portuguese media this week for taking “too long to convince” his new coaches. He has made 10 appearances since joining Benfica, but has only started two of a possible 16, so it is highly unlikely he will start 50 per cent of matches, and it would be impossible to do so unless they progress in the Portuguese Cup or Europa League anyway.

Hannibal and Fernandez could still both leave this summer, but it looks unlikely their current clauses will be triggered.