Spurs have enquired about Brentford striker Mbeumo this week and hope the lure of Champions League football can sway him
Mathys Tel will complete a permanent move to Tottenham Hotspur for an additional £30m, while it is believed Bryan Mbeumo still favours a move to Manchester United despite Spurs’ interest.
Tel spent the latter half of the season on loan from Bayern Munich, with Spurs paying an £8.5m fee for the temporary switch.
New Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is keen to keep the 20-year-old on a long-term contract, with a deal expected to be finalised in the coming days, The i Paper understands.
Signing Tel on a permanent basis is understood to have been accelerated after Spurs learned that Brentford hitman Mbeumo, who the club enquired about this week, still sees Manchester United as his preferred destination.
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Bryan Mbeumo of Brentford celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Brentford FC at Molineux on May 25, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Man Utd and Spurs are both keen on Mbeumo (Photo: Getty)
Several sources have told The i Paper Mbeumo could be tempted by staying in London and moving across the capital with his former boss Frank – the lure of Champions League football being an additional carrot in the bargaining process.
If United can agree a deal with Brentford, to at least match what Tottenham can table, then it is understood Mbeumo would take some persuading to change his mind on where he will play next season.
The transfer is not as close to completion as United fans may hope, however, with the club operating to a tight budget. If Brentford hold out for what United’s transfer hierarchy deem is too much, they will move on to other forward targets.
Tel showed glimpses of his talent in the Premier League this season, but a meagre return of three goals across all competitions for Spurs led many to believe the club would not take up the option to buy him for £45m at the end of the loan term.
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Spurs have however negotiated a slightly lower fee, with an additional €5m (£4.3m) to be added on at a later date, depending on reaching certain landmarks for Spurs.
Tel did in fact reject a move to Spurs in January, hoping United would come in and make a late swoop for him, but changed his mind later in the winter window and joined on loan.
Frank will still want to add further forward options before the summer window closes, with Son Heung-min’s future still very much up in the air.
Tel’s move to Spurs was always set to be permanent, and the fact they have negotiated a lower fee is seen as a minor victory.