Manchester United are set to go back to Brentford with an improved bid for Bryan Mbeumo after their first offer was rejected, according to reports.
Ruben Amorim is crying out for more options in his attack, which misfired terribly last season, and after moving quickly to secure the arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers, United are turning their attention to Brentford’s star man.
Earlier this week the Red Devils made their first official bid for the 26-year-old, offering £45m plus £10m in potential add-ons.
As expected, this was swiftly rejected by the Bees, who are said to be holding out for more than £60m for their 20-goal hero.
According to Mail Sport today, United are undeterred and are “preparing a revised bid” for Mbeumo, who is a “key target” for the club as they look to rebuild Amorim’s ailing squad.
Mail Sport claim that Brentford value Mbeumo “in excess of £60m”, which aligns with previous claims that they are holding out for the same £62.5m fee United paid for Cunha, as they view the two players as comparable.
The Cameroon international has one year left on his contract, although his current employers have an option to extend it by another 12 months.
Brentford boss Thomas Frank has come to terms with the possibility that his talisman may depart this summer, but his comments on the subject make grim reading for Amorim.
As per Mail Sport Frank said: “If he is to be sold, it must be for a nice, nice amount. It is a lot. Mucho. Really a lot. Then it is clear that it is impossible to replace him one for one. It cannot be done.”
For Mbeumo’s part, he is keen to move to Old Trafford and is believed to have turned down offers from elsewhere, with Arsenal and Newcastle United rebuffed in favour of the Red Devils.
This is partly due to United agreeing to pay the reported wage demands of £250,000 which is an eyebrow-raising amount for a player claiming to be desperate to join to request.
But it is possible that the club has briefed this to the media in order to deter their competitors amid INEOS’ attempts to get United’s profligate spending under control.
Mbeumo bagged 20 goals and provided eight assists in the Premier League for Brentford last season – United’s entire squad scored only 44 goals in the competition.
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Joe Ponting
Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.
