Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe (L) greets Brentford's Danish head coach Thomas Frank ahead of the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Newcastle United at Gtech Community Stadium in London on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe (L) greets Brentford's Danish head coach Thomas Frank ahead of the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Newcastle United at Gtech Community Stadium in London on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)
Newcastle United's English head coach Eddie Howe (L) greets Brentford's Danish head coach Thomas Frank ahead of the English Premier League football match between Brentford and Newcastle United at Gtech Community Stadium in London on April 8, 2023. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) | AFP via Getty Images
This swap deal could be the answer to Newcastle United and Brentford’s problems, at the expense of Manchester United.
The United pair of Newcastle and Manchester will be approaching the 2025 summer transfer window in differing spirits, with differing objectives following contrasting seasons.
Newcastle United had their best season in living memory, securing EFL Cup glory before sealing a second Champions League qualification in three seasons with a fifth-placed finish. This summer is about taking things to the next level; holding on to star players such as Alexander Isak, while seeking to bring in difference-makers who could turn Champions League hope into a title challenge.
Manchester United had quite the opposite campaign, achieving their lowest league finish since 1975 and Europa League final defeat to perennial nearly-men Tottenham Hotspur to only compound the Red Devils’ misery. This summer, wholesale changes are necessary. Head coach Ruben Amorim needs to bring in players capable of playing in his strict formation, and will know that transfer windows do not get more important than this one. The signing of Matheus Cunha is reportedly imminent, but that is only the beginning if United hope to get back to a European challenge next term.
The Newcastle United and Brentford swap deal which could impact Manchester United’s plans
Bryan Mbeumo is a man highly in demand right now. Having just enjoyed the best season of his career so far with 20 Premier League goals, the Cameroon international is on the radar of a host of top clubs in the English top-flight and beyond. Two such clubs are Newcastle and Manchester United.
Man United have been touted as favourites to bring in the £50m Brentford forward, who could play through the middle or wide behind the striker for Amorim’s side. Alongside Cunha, the signing of Mbeumo could be transformational and greatly improve United’s goalscoring output.
But Newcastle could yet put a spanner in the works, and use an ace up their sleeve in the shape of academy graduate midfielder Sean Longstaff to do it. Longstaff has been linked with a £12m move to Everton or Leeds United, but could also find a new home at the Gtech Community Stadium if the Magpies decide to use him as part of a cheeky player-plus-cash swap deal with the West Londoners.
The complications around a Sean Longstaff transfer
UEFA’s quotas state that sides competing in European competitions must have at least eight home-grown players in their squad, something Newcastle failed to meet on their last UCL adventure. Back then, they were forced to trim their squad from 25 players to 23 as a result, and Eddie Howe will be hoping not to have the same outcome this time around. Longstaff’s involvement in this conundrum is unfortunate, but his future is something which Newcastle will need to consider as we approach the window.
Should a resolution be reached which allows Longstaff to leave, a swap deal for Mbeumo could be the perfect move for all parties involved. Man United will be hoping it doesn’t come to that.
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