Birmingham City quickly left the Abdoulie Manneh saga behind and moved on to sign August Priske.
Mjällby AIF had given Manneh permission to travel to England for talks over a move to Chris Davies’ side, and then everything fell to pieces.
The 21-year-old had earlier been the subject of an equally odd Coventry City transfer saga, with Stoke City also pulled into that situation. Those who have been following the player’s transfer problems will also be aware of a failed move to Olympiacos in the summer window.
As the transfer was falling apart, Jacob Lennartsson, Mjällby CEO, explained his confusion.
“We had an agreement with Birmingham,” Lennartsson said on January 15th. “But something has gone wrong, I don’t know what yet. I’ll find out during the day. If nothing happens, he’ll have to come back.
“It seems so [that the deal has been called off], but I haven’t had it confirmed. But it seems so.
“I’ve tried to contact him today, but he hasn’t answered yet. His agent isn’t answering either. We’ll see what they say,”
At that point, Manneh was still in England, despite the failed move to Birmingham City.
And it would appear he still is.
Birmingham City collapse doesn’t end Championship dream
Fotbollskanalen report Manneh and his agent are still in England looking for a Championship club. That’s whilst his Mjällby teammates are in preseason training back at home.
The Swedish club’s sporting director Hasse Larsson has spoken to Fotbollskanalen and been quizzed on what went on with Birmingham City: “These things happen. There’s not much to say. If they don’t find a club, he can come back here and play here. We’ll see what happens.”
Pressed on whether Birmingham City have given an explanation: “No, they haven’t. I don’t know if they didn’t agree on anything financially. I don’t know actually. They just announced that they won’t take him in this window.”
What has been said between Mjällby and Manneh: “He is disappointed, of course. At the same time, it will work out. We have told him that too.”
What happens now, with Manneh still looking for a club in England: “It’s clear that it’s not optimal. But he’s training there. It’s still so early, so I’m not worried about that. There is also interest from MLS in him. But we will try England first, in the Championship, and we will see if it works or not.”
There is said to be interest from Championship clubs, although those are not named.
