Bryan Mbeumo is currently one of the hottest properties on the transfer market as Manchester United and Tottenham tussle for his signature.
Brentford accept they must sell the Cameroon international this summer as he approaches the final 12 months of his contract, or else they risk losing the 25-year-old on a free transfer in 2026.
It is understood Brentford want £70m for Mbeumo – and have already rejected a £55m bid from Manchester United.
That may seem steep for a player coming towards the end of his contract, but after scoring 20 goals in 38 Premier League appearances last season, you can understand the valuation.
Should Manchester United and Tottenham both meet this asking price, the decision will come down to Bryan Mbeumo – and the Brentford No.19 may have already revealed what he plans to do as comments from a chat with L’Equipe in May 2024 resurface.
Why Bryan Mbeumo could reject Manchester United
At the end of the 2023/24 campaign, the man born in Avallon said: “I have spent five seasons at Brentford, at a club that has helped me grow and turn a corner, but yes, I want to play in the biggest competitions, at the best clubs.
“It’s still exciting to see some of the big teams interested in me. We’ll see.”
There is no competition bigger than the UEFA Champions League, but after a dismal 2024/25 campaign, Manchester United failed to even qualify for the UEFA Conference League, so the lack of any European football at Old Trafford could well cause Mbeumo to look elsewhere this summer.
Tottenham also experienced a tough campaign last season, finishing 17th in the Premier League, but managed to beat Manchester United in the UEFA Europa League final to book a place in the UEFA Champions League, an achievement which could now give them the edge in this transfer battle.
Why the presence of Thomas Frank at Tottenham could also prove influential
Manchester United have shown a tendency to make top talents stagnate in recent years, with the likes of Scott McTominay, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and even Antony all looking much better away from Old Trafford.
Therefore, Mbeumo might fear the same could happen to him, whereas at Tottenham, the man who helped him score 20 Premier League goals last season is now in charge after Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou.
The Dane knows exactly how to get the best out of the Cameroon international, so his presence in north London – coupled with the chance to play UEFA Champions League football – may see Manchester United lose out.