Ineos make last-minute change to terms of Manchester United player’s departure

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Manchester United will now have a buy-back option on Hannibal Mejbri amid claims Ineos stepped in to add a clause into his Sevilla move.

United are poised to finalise two exits in the coming hours.

Left back Alvaro Fernandez is on the verge of signing for Benfica with his loan spell at Granada now being terminated.

That deal will have an option for a permanent deal in the summer and the same goes for midfielder Hannibal Mejbri as he heads to Sevilla.

Fabrizio Romano reported on Sunday that United had agreed to send Hannibal on loan to Sevilla with an option to buy.

Romano’s claims highlighted that United would not have a buy-back clause as part of the deal – but the situation appears to have changed…

Ineos step in to change Hannibal Mejbri deal

Romano now states that Sevilla did have an initial agreement with United on a loan-to-buy with no buy-back clause for Hannibal.

However, Romano claims that Ineos have now stepped in to request a buy-back clause to be inserted into the deal.

Ineos seemingly wouldn’t approve the deal without that clause in place with those late changes demanded on Sunday night.

Hannibal has already been seen in Spain ahead of completing his move, so Sevilla appear to have given the green light.

The permanent option will be worth around €20million (£17.2million) and United can expect to pay more than that if Hannibal is brought back to the club.

Manchester United needed Hannibal buy-back clause

Hannibal just hasn’t played enough this season and needs to move on in order to secure regular first-team football.

Few United fans would argue with a loan exit, even if Hannibal provides energy that many players simply haven’t this season.

An option to buy is one thing which will divide opinion, but United needed the security of a buy-back clause.

Hannibal clearly has real potential and seeing him become a star at Sevilla – as many players have over the years – would have really stung.

We were baffled when Romano suggested that there was no buy-back clause but are now relieved to hear that Ineos are stepping in to add that option into the deal.

Hannibal may well find his way back to Old Trafford one day and this late change to the deal at least gives a clear pathway to such a deal.