Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo is nearing a move to Manchester United as the final steps of the transfer process are being hashed out. Mbeumo has reportedly passed his medical assessment and agreed upon the terms of a lasting contract. The club is hopeful that the formalities will be concluded before the team’s voyage to the United States on Tuesday, marking the advent of their pre-season tour. An agreement was reached between United and Brentford this past Friday following several weeks of extended negotiations and refused proposals.
The accepted deal includes a definite £65m payment, which will be divided over four tranches, along with a potential bonus of £6m. The discussions between the two clubs concerning Mbeumo have spanned over a month, with United’s previous bid of £55m along with £7.5m in bonuses being declined. Prior to this, Tottenham Hotspur had expressed interest in the player, with manager Thomas Frank looking to bring him to the capital.
Despite indications from other clubs, Mbeumo, who still had two years to serve on his contract with Brentford, had set his heart on moving to the red side of Manchester. The bonus clauses attached to his deal are said to be attainable, mostly centered around his Premier League performances and goal-scoring statistics. This suggests that Brentford could edge closer to acquiring a full projected amount of £70m.
Given Manchester United’s potential resurgence to form under the tutelage of Ruben Amorim, it becomes increasingly probable that the total transfer sum could reach the maximum £71m. The likelihood of these added payments ensure that Brentford is in position to realise a profit of over £60m on Mbeumo; a player they had acquired for a mere £4m from Troyes in 2019. Mbeumo went on to score 70 goals and assist 50 more for his teammates during his stint with the club.
United’s interest in Mbeumo was bolstered by his eagerness to join the club. However, Brentford has been upfront about finding it challenging to allow the departures of both Mbeumo and his fellow forward Yoane Wissa, especially with the escalating interest in their Congolese striker.
Newcastle United has amplified their pursuit of Wissa in response to Liverpool taking the lead in the race to sign Hugo Ekitike. Additionally, Nottingham Forest had a bid turned down for Wissa, while talks about his potential move to Tottenham have been ongoing from the start of 2021. The changing landscape concerning Wissa might have influenced Manchester United’s successful bid for Mbeumo.
A new striker signing rests heavily on United’s agenda with manager Amorim and the club’s recruitment team. The club’s search for the ideal number 9 has led them to explore the possibility of acquiring various players such as Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres, and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson.
One prospective candidate is Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig. United’s recruitment team has followed Sesko’s career from his days at RB Salzburg and, even though Arsenal held preliminary discussions, they were unable to progress with any deal. The upcoming transfer window is set to be crucial in determining Sesko’s fate.
Beyond new arrivals, Manchester United will also focus on managing exits from Old Trafford. Contracts have been loosely agreed for Barcelona’s loan acquisition of Marcus Rashford. Several players including Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia have been allotted additional leisure time to explore possible opportunities to move elsewhere.