Daniel Feliciano

Mon 15 August 2022 15:35, UK

West Brom are set to miss out on the loan signing of Manchester United starlet Hannibal Mejbri after Birmingham edged closer to sealing a deal.

The Tunisia international has found first-team chances hard to come by at Old Trafford this season and Erik Ten Hag has opted to loan the 19-year-old out for more regular football.

West Brom, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Birmingham are all believed to have shown an interest, with the latter three making offers according to Manchester Evening News, but it’s the Blues who are now closing on a deal.

It’s believed recent successful loans for Tahith Chong and Teden Mengi have created a good relationship between the clubs and that’s part of the season why they are set to win the race.

West Brom will now be forced to look elsewhere to bolster their attacking options, with Daryl Dike ruled out for two months with a thigh injury picked up in training.

Blow

While West Brom aren’t in desperate need of attacking players in the department behind the striker, it’s hard to make a case that Hannibal wouldn’t have improved the team somewhat.

Able to play in a deeper number eight role as well as in the attacking midfield positions, he has the passing range, dribbling and creativity that Bruce is missing from that deeper role currently and he would have slotted in perfectly.

But the priority surely has to be a goalscorer at this point, with the Baggies in the top three for chances created and chances missed so far this season and without a league win to their name after three games.

With Dike out and Zohore not being counted on by Bruce, that leaves just Karlan Grant and youngster Reyes Cleary as the only options for that central striker role.

That made Hannibal less of an option and other clubs have pounced, but it cannot be ignored that this is a blow for the team and they have missed out on a really top talent.

In other West Brom news, one West Brom ace was praised for his “superb” bit of skill against Blackburn Rovers