Manchester United’s pursuit of Brentford sensation Bryan Mbeumo has hit a stumbling block, with Chelsea and Newcastle inadvertently complicating matters for the Red Devils. The Old Trafford outfit, who have so far secured the signatures of Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5 million and Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno for £3.5 million, are now laser-focused on landing Mbeumo. However, their efforts have been met with resistance.
United have seen two bids for the 25-year-old Cameroonian forward turned down, the latest of which matched the fee paid for Cunha. Brentford, however, are holding firm at £65 million for their star player. While Mbeumo is reportedly keen on a move to Manchester, he doesn’t seem as desperate as United’s hierarchy would hope.
Despite missing their self-imposed deadline to finalize the deal before the start of pre-season training, the Red Devils remain undeterred. Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Mbeumo is still prioritizing a move to Old Trafford, with negotiations ongoing. Romano tweeted: “Manchester United’s absolute focus remains on the Bryan Mbeumo deal, with talks set to continue this week. No agreement with Brentford last week, but #MUFC keep working on it, and Bryan also keeps giving priority to a United move. Deal on.”
Brentford’s director of football, Phil Giles, has added fuel to the fire, stating that Mbeumo would be content to stay if the Bees’ valuation isn’t met. In an interview with Sky Sports, Giles said, “There has been significant interest in Bryan. It’s been well documented and publicized about his current preference. From what I understand, he’s also happy to stay at Brentford next year if the right deal isn’t reached. We’ve spoken to Bryan and his representatives, and it’s not a given that he will depart this summer.”
Recent developments have further complicated the situation. The £60 million transfer of João Pedro to Chelsea and Newcastle’s failed £55 million bid for Anthony Elanga have reportedly emboldened Brentford to stand their ground. While United’s latest offer stands at £62.5 million, sources suggest the Bees are demanding “significantly more,” leaving the Red Devils in a tricky position.
As the saga drags on, a resolution doesn’t appear imminent. Reports indicate that United’s efforts have been hampered by Mbeumo’s early declaration of intent to join Ruben Amorim’s side before any formal talks between the clubs had begun. This has put the Red Devils on the back foot, with Brentford firmly in control of negotiations.
According to The I Paper: “When news of Mbeumo’s preference emerged a month ago, there had been no club-to-club contact between Brentford and Manchester United, putting the latter on the back foot in their bid to sign the Cameroon forward. Subsequent dialogue has seen two bids lodged, neither of which comes close to the valuation on the player. While they have not walked away from talks yet – and seemingly have no intention of doing that – it looks inevitable that the saga will drag on unless their bid is increased significantly.”
As the transfer window heats up, all eyes remain on Old Trafford and Brentford. Will Manchester United meet the asking price, or will Bryan Mbeumo remain a Bee for another season? Stay tuned for more updates.
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