Manchester United take transfer gamble as Newcastle must cut their cloth accordingly because of PSR restraints
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22:07, 02 Jun 2025
Bryan Mbeumo
Newcastle United were prepared to negotiate a fee north of £50million for Bryan Mbeumo - but any prospect of a deal crumbled after the wages that Manchester United waved at the Cameroon international became apparent.
The Magpies did their homework on the 25-year-old and, as reported on Chronicle Live back in January, watched the star multiple times. However, they were far from alone around he negotiations with a string of Champions League clubs and Saudi Pro League sides offering big bucks, understood to be north of £200,000 per week for the Brentford star.
Howe, asked if the club could make marquee signings this summer, had said after the final game of the season against Everton: "If he's already established, I think the wages and the financial package becomes difficult for us, speaking honestly, so as much as we would want it.
"Of course it's much easier for me to bring in a ready-made, established, world-class player, but I don't think we've done that since I've been here because we haven't been able to financially.
"We're not in the position of the other clubs, we have to bring them in and then try to make them that. I don't envisage that changing because of the PSR restraints on us."
Newcastle like Mbeumo and there was interest in the former Troyes man, but they were not the only club keen on the move. Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were also in the running but like Newcastle eyebrows were raised when the forward's representatives told those who made enquiries that he wanted to more than quadruple his £45,000 per week wages at Brentford.
Fresh from a £62.5million agreement with Wolves for Matheus Cunha, who will earn £200,000 per week, Man United are prepared to show their hand and go all out for Mbeumo and frantically bowing down to demands on wages and from agents. Chronicle Live understands that Eddie Howe and his backroom team are cool on the situation, knowing that there are other options available and money available to be spent this summer.
Newcastle's current top earners all sit on around £150,000 per week and include Anthony Gordon, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton. United know at some stage that their weekly wage ceiling will be broken but it would take a world class performer for that to happen.
Howe also wants players that are hungry for success and see Newcastle as a great opportunity. In a week that has also resulted in Liam Delap opting to sign for Chelsea, after interest in the £30million Ipswich Town man from Newcastle, Howe and his backroom team are confident that they will be able to lure players that will excite the fanbase in the coming weeks.
It's also believed that the impending exit of sporting director Paul Mitchell has not dented any transfer plans at St James' Park.
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