Prior to the summer transfer window, many Newcastle fans hoped we’d become firm favourites to sign Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo.
Having secured Champions League football and with our PSR position much improved after three windows without a major signing, it was a move that made perfect sense for both player and club.
The Cameroonian has instead been pushing for a move to Manchester United, amidst reports that the Red Devils would be willing to pay over £60m for Mbeumo’s services and quadrupling his weekly wage.
But there’s been another twist in the tale, and Mbeumo’s move to the red half of Manchester may have just been throw into disarray – but it’s another potential headscratcher for Newcastle fans…
According to [Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13380146/bryan-mbeumo-transfer-news-brentford-forward-and-man-utd-target-intrigued-by-tottenham-move-after-thomas-frank-appointed), Tottenham Hotspur are said to be in discussions with Brentford over a potential transfer of Mbeumo, with Man Utd so far unable to strike a deal with the player.
They report that Mbeumo is now ‘more intrigued’ by the possibility of joining Spurs now former Bees coach Thomas Frank has now replaced Ange Postecoglou.
Playing under the Danish manager, Mbuemo produced a career-best goalscoring campaign of 20 goals and seven assists as the Bees narrowly missed out on European football.
And with Frank now making the move from West to North London, and taking much of his coaching staff along with him, it makes sense why he would want to take his top star as well.
Back in the summer of 2023, upon our return to the Champions League, we were snubbed by then-Leicester City star James Maddison over a rumoured move, with the Englishman instead wanting the move to Spurs, settling for its London location despite being in a lower tier of European competition.
A similar feeling could be felt here: Newcastle finished in 5th place in the Premier League this season, and we of course won the Carabao Cup, whilst Manchester United notably went trophyless. As for Spurs, in spite of winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League, they finished in 17th place whilst enduring the joint-most defeats in a league season in their history.
So for an ambitious player like Mbeumo, is the opportunity to play in a familiar system and having to avoid relocating to another part of the country worth missing out on bigger and better things on Tyneside?
Ultimately, him moving to Spurs may be a marginally easier alternative to stomach than if he were to move to Man Utd, as that would have exposed the player to only moving for the money on offer. And it will take something herculean from Spurs next season to balance a push for European football on top of a packed Champions League schedule.