Brentford’s Manchester United-linked winger Bryan Mbeumo.placeholder image
Brentford’s Manchester United-linked winger Bryan Mbeumo. | Getty Images
Brentford are on the lookout for potential Bryan Mbeumo replacements this summer.
Brentford face arguably a defining summer in the club’s history, with many questions yet to be answered and a new head coach in Keith Andrews given the unenviable task of steadying the ship.
The Bees were one of the most stable and well-run clubs in England during Thomas Frank’s seven-year reign, but a new chapter looms and the club find themselves in uncharted waters. Former set-piece coach Andrews must replace the iconic figure of Frank and will hope he can keep hold of as many of his key players as possible.
Captain Christian Norgaard has already departed for Arsenal in an initial £10m deal after six years’ service with the Bees, while the club have brought a few new signings in through the door in the shape of Antoni Milambo, Caoimhín Kelleher, Michael Kayode and, most recently, Jordan Henderson.
Arguably the Bees’ biggest transfer saga of the summer, though, has surrounded Bryan Mbeumo and his continued links with Manchester United. Two bids, including a second of up to £62.5m, have been rejected but it is believed that a deal will eventually be done, as Mbeumo is keen on a move to Old Trafford above Frank’s new side Tottenham Hotspur.
Mbeumo replacement targeted in Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson
Brentford are interested in Ipswich Town winger Omari Hutchinson and have made an approach about a transfer, report David Ornstein and Simon Johnson forThe Athletic. The 21-year-old is seen as one of a ‘small number’ of players considered as a replacement for Cameroon international Mbeumo if he is to depart.
A deal for Hutchinson is currently seen as unlikely, as the player is on an extended holiday following his starring role in European Championship glory with England U21s and a significant gap in valuation exists. The player is reported to have had a £35m relegation clause in his contract which expired at 5pm on Tuesday, but Brentford’s approach the previous day failed to meet this. It is not known whether Ipswich are open to selling for a lower price after the fee’s expiry.
The Tractor Boys will begin their Championship campaign in less than four weeks’ time with the aim of an immediate return to the top flight and may hope to keep Hutchinson within the squad to develop his game for another year.
Hutchinson needs to be ‘more selfish’ - Lee Carsley
As a direct replacement for Mbeumo, Hutchinson’s goalscoring return is incomparable as of yet and he would certainly need to work on that side of his game if he were to arrive at the Gtech. But Mbeumo did not arrive at Brentford as the finished article - nor did Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins or Said Benrahma before him - so Bees fans will hope that West London could be the right place for Hutchinson to take his game to the next level.
Hutchinson scored three Premier League goals in 2024/25, just one less than Mbeumo managed in his first top-flight season three years prior. England U21 manager Lee Carsley spoke during the U21 Euros about what he feels the young winger still needs to work on.
Carsley said: "I've seen Omari get in that pocket, turn and drive with the ball so many times at Ipswich. If he can do that more often for us, and even be more selfish and greedy when he's driving, he'll never get any complaints from me if he's driving and shooting or trying to be creative in the play. The more players we've got like that who can play for England, the better chances we've got.”
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