Newcastle United have moved on to other targets as Bryan Mbeumo closes in on a move to Manchester United.
Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe wants to bolster his attack ahead of the new season and had identified Mbeumo as a leading target after the winger scored 20 Premier League goals last term, a total bettered only by Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland.
However, after touching base with Mbeumo’s representatives, the Magpies learned of the player’s preference to join Man United, who have spent the past month attempting to agree a fee with Brentford.
In that period, his manager at Brentford Thomas Frank has left to join Tottenham Hotspur, leading to suggestions that they could hijack a deal. However, Mbeumo has his heart set on a move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United pencil in Bryan Mbeumo medical
Having had an opening bid of £45million plus £10m in add-ons rejected, the Red Devils are now said to be close to reaching a final agreement after submitting a package worth in excess of £60m.
And according to talkSPORT, that should see Mbeumo undergo a medical next week. Their reporter Alex Crook wrote on X: “Bryan Mbeumo medical at #MUFC expected to take place next week.”
The Cameroon international will reportedly bank a £200,000-a-week salary at Old Trafford, a figure Newcastle and several other Premier League clubs cannot currently compete with, to become Ruben Amorim’s second summer signing after Matheus Cunha from Wolves.
Cunha was another player Newcastle were interested in but Amorim’s side moved quickly to activate his £62.5m release clause.
Newcastle United exploring other attacking options
Newcastle are yet to make a major breakthrough in this summer’s transfer window but hope to make progress in the coming weeks, with Joao Pedro of Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga among their attacking targets.
Pedro was set to move to St James’ Park from Watford in 2022 but the deal was pulled when Newcastle decided to pursue a £63m club-record transfer for Alexander Isak. A year later, the Brazilian joined Brighton, where he has scored 30 goals in 70 appearances.
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The Seagulls are open to selling the 23-year-old after he was left out of the matchday for the remaining two matches of last season following a reported training ground bust-up with teammate Jan Paul van Hecke.
Forest are less keen to part ways with Elanga, who was subject to two approaches from Newcastle last summer.
The Magpies asked for the Swede as part of the PSR swindle that saw Elliot Anderson move to the City Ground but ended up having to take Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos instead. United then tried their luck on deadline day but were met with a firm no.
Earlier this week, the Reds rejected a £45m bid from Newcastle.
Both players are rumoured to be valued at £60m each, a total that will likely have to be negotiated down if Howe is to sign both.
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