Bryan Mbeumo transfer truth and what comes next as Manchester United launch £55million bid

Man Utd have made a first bid for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo as they try and wrap up a deal for the 25-year-old.

Manchester United have made an opening offer to Brentford for forward Bryan Mbeumo as they accelerate plans to complete a second signing of the summer.

The offer of £45million with a further £10million in add-ons falls short of Brentford’s initial asking price for the 25-year-old forward but talks between the two parties are set to continue.

Mbeumo has made it clear he wants to join United this season despite strong interest from Newcastle, and although Brentford are playing hardball at the moment, the Cameroon international has just one year left on his contract, with a club option of a further year.

Brentford are holding out for a similar fee to the £62.5million United paid Wolves to sign Matheus Cunha, believing they are similar players at a similar age, although the Brazilian had a release clause in his contract at Molineux.

Mbeumo hit 20 goals from the wing for the Bees last season, as well as registering seven assists, and boss Thomas Frank has already made it clear any club trying to sign him will have to pay a sizeable fee.

“It is clear that if he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount,” Frank said. “It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot.

“How many wingers score 20 goals for a mid-table club? And then with seven assists plus his work ethic. And his character. All these things mean that he has a lot, so he is a good player.”

United’s move for Mbeumo as part of an overhaul of their attacking options under Ruben Amorim this summer. Antony, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are all expected to be sold during the window.

Inter Milan have also expressed an interest in signing striker Rasmus Hojlund, who has had an underwhelming couple of years at Old Trafford.

United are likely to need to sell to buy if they wrapped up a deal for Mbeumo as well as Cunha, with those moves swallowing up the club’s transfer budget for the window after an underwhelming campaign ended without European football.

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