It took a long time to come, but the second bid for Bryan Mbeumo from Manchester United is finally in, and the club know one option is off the table now.
Man Utd’s interest in Bryan Mbeumo developed quickly and the first bid followed soon after, but it was never likely to be accepted.
Brentford rejected it out of hand, and after what one can only presume to be negotiations on the down low, United submitted a second bid for Mbeumo.
The bid is in excess of £60m, which means that United now know what they need to do after tabling it. One option is off the table.
Jason Wilcox, Technical Director of Manchester United, and Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Minority Shareholder of Manchester United, are seen in attendance prior to the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at Etihad Stadium
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
Man Utd’s course of action after second Bryan Mbeumo bid
United’s first bid for Mbeumo was more of a confirmation of interest in the player rather than a firm, acceptable offer.
However, the same cannot be said for their second bid. The bid amount takes the fee close to what United paid for Matheus Cunha, which was Brentford’s demand all along.
The bid also reportedly has a larger section of the fee paid up front, again, a demand of Brentford after rejecting the first bid.
Having accepted all of Brentford’s demands in their second bid, United have a clear course of action after that bid has gone in.
More United News
Either it gets accepted, in which case, it’s a no-brainer to quickly seal the move since personal terms with the player are not a problem at all.
However, if this bid gets rejected again, then United will have to make a tough decision and call Brentford’s bluff by walking away from the move.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has been open about teams putting “United tax” on players, and the expectation was that walking away from Jarrad Branthwaite last summer would help with negotiations this summer.
If another deal needs to be sacrificed to hammer home that point, then they need to do just that.
One option is off the table, and that is to make another improved bid, because at that point, it will be clear that United have been taken to the cleaners.
Man Utd’s fine balancing act is a Glazer inheritance
The hard truth facing Man Utd after their second bid for Mbeumo is that their financial situation has taken one option out of the window.
For a competent club, things wouldn’t even reach that point, as the selling club would know that United are not to be taken advantage of.
However, due to a decade of the Glazers’ regime overpaying and panic-buying players in transfer sagas played out in the media, United have been stuck with that tag.
Ineos need to work hard to shed that tag, and that will come at the cost of some deals in the short term.
Branthwaite was a casualty last summer, and if the second bid for Mbeumo is rejected, the Cameroonian could become an example this summer.
Either way, it’s something United need to do. The inheritance from the Glazer regime will continue to haunt United for the foreseeable future, both on and off the pitch.