uk.sports.yahoo.com

Manchester United push beyond £60m with second Bryan Mbeumo bid

Manchester United have submitted an improved offer for Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo worth more than £60 million.

United’s opening offer worth an initial £45 million with a further £10 million in add-ons was rejected by Brentford at the start of the month.

Discussions have continued since and United have now made an improved second bid that is expected to guarantee Brentford more money upfront.

Mbeumo, 25, is entering the final 12 months of his contract with Brentford although the club have an option to extend his deal by a further 12 months.

United’s players are set to start returning for pre-season training from July 7 and manager Ruben Amorim is keen to have Mbeumo in the squad by then.

Amorim has been eager to address his side’s chronic shortage of goals – they managed just 44 in 38 Premier League games last season – and has already signed Brazil forward Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for £62.5 million.

Mbeumo, who scored 20 goals and registered seven assists for Brentford last season, would further bolster United’s attacking options.

Amorim would ideally like a centre-forward, too, although United need to offload players to help raise funds to reinvest, with Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho and Antony all surplus to requirements.

Jonny Evans

Jonny Evans will remain at Old Trafford after hanging up his boots - Getty Images/Alex Livesey

Meanwhile, Jonny Evans is set to join the United staff after reaching an agreement with the club to look after the loans of emerging talents.

Evans retired at the end of the season, and United have been keen to keep the 37-year-old at the club in the belief that he can play a valuable role in youth development.

The former Northern Ireland defender came through the academy ranks at United before leaving for West Bromwich Albion in 2015 only to return eight years later and his character, professionalism and experience are all considered valuable traits that the club wish to tap into going forward.

Les Parry, who served as United’s loans manager, left the club last November to take a similar job at NEOM SC in Saudi Arabia and Evans is expected to fill that vacancy.

His role will involve identifying appropriate clubs at which to place young players and monitor their progress as well as providing support.

Evans enjoyed an illustrious 19-year playing career, during which time he made 538 senior appearances for five clubs. He won three Premier League titles under Sir Alex Ferguson at United and was capped 107 times by Northern Ireland.

Read full news in source page