Manchester United are desperate to land Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford before the end of the January transfer window, but they cannot afford to let the Bees take advantage
14:05, 01 Jul 2025
Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with a move to either Manchester United or Tottenham
Bryan Mbeumo has been linked with a move to either Manchester United or Tottenham(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United are said to be hell-bent on putting an end to the 'United tax' - a term coined for clubs trying to wring out extra millions from them during transfer negotiations.
It's a pickle of their own making, reports the Manchester Evening News, as there's a long list of instances where the fallen Premier League giants have initially baulked at a club's asking price, only to eventually cough up - with disastrous results. The Antony saga in 2022 is etched in every United fan's memory, after one of the worst signings in the history of British football cost a whopping £86m.
United balked at Ajax's price tag for the Brazilian, only to come crawling back on deadline day and fork out more than what the Dutch side had originally asked for. Then there was the Rasmus Hojlund debacle. United were adamant they wouldn't cross the £60m mark for the young striker, yet soon enough, Hojlund was snapped donning a United jersey after Atalanta pocketed an initial £64m for their forward, a sum that could swell to £72m for the goal shy flop.
Given United's history of bowing to selling clubs' demands, it's no shocker that clubs feel confident to stand their ground in transfer discussions. But United have been told it's high time they showed they've turned over a new leaf.
The club are still haggling with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo after having their second offer knocked back last week. A third bid might be on the cards, but the Manchester Evening News say it's crucial United demonstrate they're not a soft touch.
Bryan Mbeumo
Bryan Mbeumo prefers a move to Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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It's worth noting that chasing Mbeumo makes a lot more sense than the decisions to splash out on Antony and Hojlund.
Neither Antony nor Hojlund had proven their mettle in the Premier League, and forking out such mind blowing sums on two young prospects who'd never played English football was a catastrophe in the making.
Mbeumo, with his Premier League experience and impressive 20-goal tally last season, is as near to a safe bet as United could hope for. But that doesn't mean they should just roll over and cough up whatever Brentford demand.
United will have set a cap on what they're willing to shell out for Mbeumo, and as long as they stick within that limit, they're right to keep negotiations going with Brentford and ward off Tottenham who have been rivals for the Cameroon international's signature.
However, if talks keep dragging on without any clear progress, then the Manchester Evening News say United need to cut their losses.
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It might sting to let go of a player who could clearly bolster the squad, but if United want to put an end to the 'United tax', it might be the best move in the long run.