Manchester United could reportedly miss out on Bryan Mbeumo if Brentford strike a different deal with Tottenham or Newcastle. The Red Devils have been chasing Mbeumo for a number of weeks but are yet to settle on a transfer fee. They have already seen offers of £55million and £62.5m knocked back since the start of the window.
Mbeumo is eager to move to Old Trafford and personal terms are said to have been agreed in principle. However, the deal will hinge on whether United can find a breakthrough in talks at club level. It will also depend on the future of Yoane Wissa, who is reportedly the subject of interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
Nottingham Forest saw a bid rejected earlier in the window, while Tottenham and Newcastle have also been linked with a potential move. If either of those clubs strike a deal to land Wissa, it could spell trouble for United’s pursuit of Mbeumo.
Brentford are unwilling to sell both players, according to Sky Sports, meaning whichever club agrees to sign Mbeumo or Wissa would rule out the sale of the other. It effectively leaves United in a race to wrap up negotiations before it is too late.
It would be ‘near impossible’ to Brentford to let both forwards leave, given how important they have been over the last few seasons. The west Londoners have already lost Christian Norgaard to Arsenal, while manager Thomas Frank has joined Tottenham.
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Only time will tell how the situation plays out, with United still trying to land Mbeumo despite the lack of progress over a transfer fee. The player has reportedly informed Brentford chiefs that he only wants to join the Red Devils this summer.
However, there is a chance that he will stay at the Gtech Community Stadium if a fee cannot be agreed. Brentford sporting director Phil Giles recently said that Mbeumo would be happy to remain at the club in the event United fail to pay up.
“There is significant interest in Bryan,” he told Sky Sports News earlier this summer. “I think it’s been documented and publicised about his current preference.
“I think, from what I understand, he’s also if needs be happy to stay at Brentford next year as well. Let’s see on that.
“I think our position is that he had an unbelievable season last year, we expected interest in him. If that deal is right, there is a deal to do. If it’s not, he will stay. We’ve spoken to Bryan and it’s not a given that he’s going to depart this summer.”
Mbeumo played in all 38 league games for Brentford last season, scoring 20 goals in the process. He is only under contract until next summer, meaning the Bees would risk losing him for nothing if they refuse to sell over the coming weeks, but they do have the option to extend his deal by another year.
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