Bryan Mbeumo has reportedly taken a very hard stance with Brentford as he looks to secure a move to Manchester United this summer.
Manchester United have turned their attention to a third summer signing following the confirmed arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon.
Cunha, 26, has joined from Wolves in a £62.5 million deal, while 18-year-old Leon arrives from Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño for an initial £3 million, potentially rising to £7 million with add-ons.
Talks are ongoing with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo, though the club have already seen bids totalling £55 million and £62.5 million rejected.
Rúben Amorim is also eager to strengthen in both midfield and attack before the 2025/26 season, with hopes that most of the club’s business will be wrapped up ahead of the upcoming pre-season tour.
Mbeumo has informed Brentford about pre-season deadline
The news that Mbeumo wanted to join United over any other club this summer broke over a month ago, with negotiations having been ongoing for several weeks and no conclusion reached.
Amorim wanted the deal completed before he returned to pre-season training, and according to transfer journalist Graeme Bailey, this remains the case, and that United have “not given up hope” that the deal could be secured by Monday.
Further, Bailey explained that Mbeumo’s camp have now made it “completely clear” that the player wants this transfer finalised before the start of pre-season. United’s first day of pre-season is on Monday, 7 July.
“I am not sure United walk away from this, even if the third bid is not accepted,” Bailey told UnitedInFocus. “But there is always that chance in football.
“I do know that Mbeumo and his camp have made it completely clear to Brentford they want this done before pre-season to avoid the situation that he might have to return to West London – they don’t want that and I’m not convinced Brentford do either.”
Mbeumo must be in for the pre-season tour
The first week or so of pre-season is often geared toward reintegrating the squad back to the club, with a number of physical and medical tests taking place to assess where the squad are at regarding their fitness and injury levels. If Mbeumo misses this, it is not the worst thing in the world.
However, once Amorim starts working on the training ground with his squad again, this is where the club need the Cameroon international’s transfer over the line and the player bedding in with his new teammates.
United have their first pre-season fixture on 19 July against Leeds United in Sweden, before the club flies to face Everton, West Ham, and Bournemouth in the United States. There is also a friendly tie against Fiorentina due to take place at Old Trafford the weekend before the start of the season.
Amorim will need the majority of his new signings on the pre-season tour of the USA to have the maximum amount of time on the training ground to work with them, and Mbeumo must be part of this.
The club face Arsenal during the opening weekend of the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, with a Sunday afternoon kick-off at Old Trafford on the cards.
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