Man Utd are attempting to sign Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford this summer and two bids have been knocked back.
Brentford's sporting director provided an update.
Brentford's sporting director, Phil Giles, has protected his club's best interests this week.
The Brentford chief sat down with Sky Sports on Monday to discuss Mbeumo's future and warned that he could stay in London, provided an appropriate offer is not received this summer.
"There's significant interest in Bryan. I think it's been documented and publicised about, you know, his current preference," said Giles.
"From what I understand, if needs be, he's happy to stay at Brentford next year as well, so listen, let's see on that. I think our position is he had an unbelievable season last year and we expected interest in him. If that deal is right, then there's a deal to do, but if not, then he'll stay."
Giles was asked about conversations regarding staying at Brentford and responded: "We've spoken to Bryan and his representatives. It's not a given that he is going to depart this summer.
"There is interest. He had a great season last season, so the interest is inevitable. If we get the right offer, there is potentially a deal to be done, but there's only so much we can say on that."
In a separate interview with the BBC, Giles discussed Mbeumo again and said: "He has his ideas about where he wants to take his career. He is well within his rights to do that. It is not impossible he is still a Brentford player next season if we agree he is going to stay."
Giles added Mbeumo would only be sold if it was "the right deal" for Brentford. "Any club will tell you that," he said. "If it's not right deal, why would we do it? He is certainly one of our best players, if not our best player, and we need our best players. There's no harm in keeping your best players."
(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images.)
The interviews caused a stir on social media, but Giles was never going to publicly say there was no chance of Mbeumo staying at Brentford because that would damage their bargaining power.
It would also not be true. There is a small chance that Mbeumo stays in London because anything can happen in the transfer market, although it's far likelier he leaves and gets his wish of a summer switch to Old Trafford.
Giles was doing his job and protecting Brentford's negotiating power in the interviews earlier in the week and his comments won't worry United, who have tabled two bids for Mbeumo.
in excess of £60million for Mbeumo, but that fell short of Brentford's valuation and talks are continuing between the two clubs to find a compromise.
Some supporters have suggested United should walk away from the deal, believing Brentford are trying to rinse the club dry. However, an agreement should be close at this stage of talks.
United have overpaid for players in the past and are trying to improve their reputation in the market, but Mbeumo is a Premier League-proven player and should be worth haggling for.