Man United are still locked in talks with Brentford to try and sign Bryan Mbeumo - but the delay could be good news for some players.
George is a Senior Football Writer for the Manchester Evening News, mostly covering Manchester United. He previously worked for football.london before joining the MEN team in July 2021. As well as covering United, George is a Championship-enthusiast and co-hosts The Championship Chat Podcast (@Champchatpod24), which you can find on all major podcast platforms.
Manchester United's players walk out onto the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of last season's Premier League clash against West Ham United.
Mason Mount (right) and Amad could benefit from the ongoing transfer delay.
(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images.)
Unless the situation takes a dramatic shift, Manchester United will not be parading Bryan Mbeumo in front of their supporters in Stockholm on Saturday.
Despite submitting an opening offer for the Brentford attacker six weeks ago, United remain locked in negotiations to try and sign the Cameroon international. After their opening bid, understood to be worth £55million, was rejected, they tabled a second offer in excess of £60m three weeks later.
United had planned to sign Mbeumo in time for the start of pre-season training last week. Instead, Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon were the only new recruits who were introduced to their new teammates.
With the opening game of United's pre-season tour of the United States now just over a week away, time is running out for them to sign Mbeumo in time for him to make the plane alongside the rest of the squad.
No shortage of United supporters are frustrated by the ongoing delay, but the Reds, who face Leeds United in their opening friendly this weekend, are refusing to pay over the odds.
Despite the ongoing delay, Mbeumo's hunger to move to Old Trafford is considered as a positive. There is a general feeling the deal will get finalised eventually. But how long is a piece of string?
Amid the ongoing delay, those who could find themselves competing with Mbeumo for a place in Ruben Amorim's starting XI could be secretly pleased. The longer the deal takes to get done, the longer those who could soon be in competition with him will have to impress Amorim in pre-season.
Mbeumo has made a name for himself as a goalscoring winger at Brentford, frequently cutting in from the right flank and using his trustworthy left foot. However, there is no room for natural wingers in Amorim's system, of course.
Mbeumo could be used as the right-sided No.10 or as the right wing-back in the Portuguese chief's 3-4-2-1 system. Some believe he should be unleashed in the attack, while others are in favour of him occupying a place out wide.
Bryan Mbeumo appeals a decision while in action for Brentford.
Manchester United remain determined to get Bryan Mbeumo through the door.
Whatever Amorim's plan is, he knows Mbeumo will have competition in the hunt for a starting berth. If he considers the 25-year-old as a wing-back, for example, he will face competition from Diogo Dalot and Amad.
If he views him as one of the two No.10s, he will be challenged by Mason Mount and Amad. The latter is equally comfortable as the right-sided No.10 or as the right-sided wing-back, meaning he and Mbeumo would be able to provide similar characteristics.
If Amorim intends on playing Mbeumo as an attacker, the longer it takes United to make a breakthrough in discussions with Brentford, the stronger Mount's and Amad's chances of nailing down a place in the starting XI will become.
Amad was United's most improved player by a country mile last season and will be a regular starter in 2025/26 whether it be in attack or out wide. If Mbeumo is unleashed on the flank, Amad should start as the No.10 and vice versa.
Mount, though, is a very valuable asset in Amorim's eyes. The United boss has made no secret of just how much he adores him, and there is a very good chance he could become a key player in his third season at Old Trafford if he can stay injury-free.
Despite being signed by United to operate as a No.8 two years ago, Mount is much better when playing further forward in Amorim's system. He is well-versed in a three-at-the-back formation and has the intelligence to offer United what Amorim is looking for.
Mason Mount in training at Carrington.
Mason Mount will be eyeing a successful third season at Old Trafford.
Unlike Amad, he is not capable of playing out wide, meaning the right-sided No.10 spot, considering new recruit Matheus Cunha is poised to occupy the left-sided playmaker role, is Mount's route into the starting XI.
But with Dalot still considered a valuable player by Amorim, too, he will be hoping to nail down the right wing-back spot this pre-season, meaning Amad and Mount could find themselves in direct competition to start in attack.
Amorim will rotate and tinker throughout pre-season. It may not be until United's final friendly against Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9, by which time Mbeumo's signature might have been secured, that his first-choice starting XI for the season opener against Arsenal may be tested.
United need to get Mbeumo through the door sooner rather than later to ease frustrations, but Amad and Mount might be only too happy to wait a little while longer.