On Monday, it was reported in Sweden that Abdoulie Manneh was set to travel for a Birmingham City medical. This came after talk of a move to Coventry City or Stoke City went quiet.
Frank Lampard’s team had been making efforts to sign the Mjällby AIF player for months. Stoke City were dragged in and it looked like an attempt to squeeze more money from Coventry City.
Whether that was in terms of transfer fee or wages wasn’t clear.
At the end of November, Sport Witness published an article titled: ‘Coventry City and Abdoulie Manneh turning into a farce’
That should give an idea of what a mess it had become.
Indeed, even as the claims swirled of Birmingham City preparing a medical for Manneh, we threw in caution: ‘Given what has happened between Manneh, Coventry City and Stoke in recent months, this one isn’t done until he’s holding the shirt.’
And therefore, it comes as no shock that Manneh’s move to Birmingham City has collapsed. Perhaps the only surprise is that it didn’t drag on for two weeks before falling to pieces.
Birmingham City collapse a mystery to Mjällby AIF
Sweden’s FotbollDirekt have got in touch with Mjällby AIF to find out their opinion on it all.
It’s worth noting that in the summer, a move to Olympiacos also disintegrated at the last minute. The Swedish club will have then been through all the Coventry City and Stoke City drama, and now this week’s update.
The club’s sport director Hasse Larsson has been asked for comment. Before providing that, he wants to know what actually happened: “No, unfortunately I don’t want to (say) before we have all the facts. No, I have no comments at this time.”
Mjällby AIF not knowing what has happened would suggest the problem is between Manneh and Birmingham City. Whether it can be resolved is unknown.