Manchester United’s pursuit of Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo has reached a delicate phase after lodging a third proposal that could rise to £70 million about £65 million guaranteed plus up to £5 million in performance‑based add‑ons. The 25‑year‑old Cameroon international is understood to prefer Old Trafford, and United are keen to conclude negotiations before the squad departs for a 13‑day pre‑season tour of the United States on Tuesday, 22 July 2025. Yet no agreement is in place. Three factors continue to slow progress.
1. Brentford’s Strategic Silence
Brentford have not formally responded to United’s latest offer. Because Mbeumo is under contract and remains central to their attack, the club feel little pressure to rush a sale. Their calculation is further complicated by parallel interest in Yoane Wissa, who is attracting bids, including from Newcastle United. Approving a Mbeumo exit without clarity on Wissa could strip depth from two key attacking roles. Brentford are therefore stress‑testing scenarios, weighing valuations, and considering the sequencing of any departures before committing to a decision.
2. Market Competition and United’s Tactical Deadline
Other clubs notably Tottenham Hotspur under former Brentford manager Thomas Frank have monitored Mbeumo, but the player’s preference gives United an initial edge. Time, however, is tightening. Manager Ruben Amorim wants Mbeumo embedded quickly as he installs an attacking structure that already includes summer arrival Matheus Cunha in an inside‑forward lane. United’s urgency is sharpened by last season’s meagre 44 Premier League goals, among the club’s leanest top‑flight returns in the modern era. With the Premier League opener against Arsenal at Old Trafford set for 17 August 2025, every lost training day matters.
3. Dressing Room Dynamics and Squad Reshuffle
Amorim’s evolving blueprint could nudge Bruno Fernandes into a slightly deeper creative role to free advanced spaces for Cunha and, potentially, Mbeumo operating between the lines behind the striker. That adjustment further narrows reintegration pathways for sidelined attackers Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, and Antony, none currently central to the manager’s plans. While other forwards have been discussed, Mbeumo’s movement, work rate, and end product remain the profile United most want.
If the move drags beyond the US tour departure, adaptation time shrinks, tactical cohesion suffers, and frustration grows for club, coach, and player alike.
