Hannibal Mejbri is one name that does not seem to be going away when it comes to Rangers.
The Manchester United midfielder, 21, was tipped for the very top of the game when the Red Devils shelled out to sign him as a teenager.
But Tunisian international Hannibal has never really been able to break into the Man United first team and now a summer transfer exit looks certain to beckon.
Rangers have been linked to Hannibal Mejbri over the last month or so but with the midfielder part of the United’s pre-season tour of the USA any talk was shelved.
But now Fabrizio Romano has lit a fire under the reports with Philippe Clement’s comments about the role of Champions League money at Ibrox resonating louder than ever.
Rangers move for Hannibal ‘quite difficult’
Fabrizio Romano has linked Rangers to Hannibal before and the coverage of the Italian journalist has offered some legitimacy to the links.
Romano is one of the key players in transfer reporting and previously claimed Rangers would need to stump up to bring Hannibal to Ibrox from Old Trafford.
These are claims that Romano has repeated once again in an interview with Give Me Sport with the Italian suggesting the finances are a sticking point.
Claiming such a deal could be ‘quite difficult’ for Rangers to structure ‘at the moment’, it suggests the Gers remain open to a deal should they come into some extra finances.
“Yes, there was an interest. It’s true, but Man United are only interested in permanent transfer,” said Romano.
“So selling the player on a permanent transfer, not a new loan. And at the moment, for Rangers, that could be quite difficult.
“So the conversation is true, the interest is true, but the formula of the deal is going to be crucial to understand the future of Hannibal.”
Rangers wait on Champions League cash
The comments from Fabrizio Romano come after Rangers boss Philippe Clement admitted that qualification for the Champions League is crucial to the club’s transfer plans.
Claiming that the Gers have two strategies dependent on how the qualification efforts go, the Belgian manager hinted that the club’s business is shelved until later in the window.
Given the latest comments of Romano, perhaps Rangers could only afford the deal for Hannibal if the Champions League qualification campaign ends favourably.
“Yeah, of course, it’s a big world of difference,” said Clement when asked if qualification for the Champions League would impact his transfer plans.
“But you cannot count on that.
“It’s a long road to take. It’s four really important games that you need to win or to qualify in. So it’s a big road.
“So let’s focus now on the first leg and to get a good result towards the second leg and to focus all on that.
“That’s what we need to do now and not to look where we are in September. It’s now the beginning of August.
“We need to get the best out of the situation now. That’s very important.
“It could really vary what you’re trying to do at the end of the window. That’s why you need to be prepared for the two scenarios.
“Also in your talks with players, it’s really clear that in some cases it’s only possible when you get Champions League money.
“But like I said, if you see all the teams that are playing to qualify for this, there’s a lot of quality in that.
“So we need to be really top in the four games to qualify. We know that.”
