Burnley warned of inevitable Turf Moor transfer exit - 'he's a class act' | OneFootball

Burnley face a battle to retain Hannibal Mejbri following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

Burnley are set for a crucial summer transfer window, although the immediate priority is to appoint a new head coach.

The Clarets suffered a disappointing relegation from the Premier League last season, which was the third time in the past five years they have gone down from the top flight.

So, whilst the immediate priority is winning promotion once again next season, the long-term challenge for the hierarchy at Turf Moor is to build a project that can end the cycle of promotion and relegation, and instead establish Burnley in the Premier League.

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Hannibal Mejbri set for uncertain future at Burnley

Yet, as outlined above, the only concern right now is reshaping the squad for a push at the top two, which won’t be easy considering the strength of the Championship next season.

As Burnley know, relegation comes with financial consequences, and, once again, they will have to sell some key players to cope with the loss of revenue.

And, one player who is certain to attract interest is Hannibal Mejbri, with the midfielder having impressed for the club since he arrived from Man Utd in the summer of 2024.

Mejbri was one of few to emerge with credit from the previous campaign, and, with the 23-year-old currently at the World Cup with Tunisia, he has the chance to raise his profile.

So, it seems unlikely a decision will be made on Mejbri’s future until he returns from the tournament, but, when asked by FLW about the midfielder, Burnley fan pundit Aaron Wright admitted he would love to keep the player, although he feels an exit is inevitable.

“I hope he won’t be sold, but I think he will. He was bought for peanuts, and he is a class act, a class player that is easily Premier League level.

“A sale would help our SCR massively despite Man Utd’s sell-on clause. I think if any of the spine of the team has to be sold, Hannibal is the one that would be the best financial decision, and that’s what it will be.

“I do hope he stays from a football point of view, I just don’t see it.”

Keeping Hannibal Mejbri would be a statement for Burnley

Most would share the view that Mejbri will be on the move, as he is a player who has the attributes to go a long way in the game.

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He arguably hasn’t shown enough on a consistent basis in terms of his numbers, as he should be scoring more goals and registering more assists when you consider his natural ability. Furthermore, he is still prone to making some silly decisions on the pitch.

But, in terms of his quality, there’s no doubt he is an exciting player, and it would be a major boost for Burnley if they could keep him at Turf Moor.

It remains to be seen whether that’s realistic, but with Wolves looking set to keep Andre, and Jarrod Bowen potentially staying at West Ham, Burnley’s promotion rivals have had a positive start to the window.

Mejbri’s immediate priority will be the World Cup, and helping Tunisia to bounce back from their heavy defeat to Sweden.

But, when they exit the tournament, attention will turn to his future, and it would be no surprise if Burnley do receive serious offers for the midfielder.

From a financial perspective, Burnley will need to sell players this summer, and even though Man Utd have a 50% sell-on clause, he would make the club a nice profit.

So, some big decisions are looming for Burnley, and it will be interesting to see who is in charge, and how the XI looks for the opening day in August.