Only five clubs in Europe ended the 2024/25 season with three players hitting double figures for league goals: PSG, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, and Brentford.
Bees manager Thomas Frank pointed out that all the other clubs won their respective league titles, as he told theSports Gazette: “That is four of the biggest clubs in the world, not only now, but in history. (They will have) more of the ball, create more chances, more opportunities for the strikers to score.
“And I’m pretty sure their front three cost just a few quid more than the players we recruited!” he added with a wry smile.
Frank’s side finished 10th in the Premier League, averaging 47.8% possession, the fifth lowest in the division, yet ended as the fifth-highest scorers, racking up 66 goals. At the heart of that potent attack were Bryan Mbeumo, Yoane Wissa, and Kevin Schade. The trio combined for a stunning 50 league goals, with individual tallies of 20, 19, and 11, respectively.
Several Premier League clubs have been monitoring standout performer Bryan Mbeumo for months, with Manchester United, Newcastle, Arsenal, and Spurs all interested in the forward. ButThe Athletic’s David Ornstein broke the news that Old Trafford is the Cameroonian’s preferred destination, with talks between the two clubs expected to take place in the coming days.
With the fee rumoured to be north of £60 million, the question now is whether Mbeumo is the right fit for Ruben Amorim’s struggling United, and how Thomas Frank plans to replace one of Brentford’s most influential players.
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Mbeumo’s breakout season and United’s striking crisis
Mbeumo’s 20-goal haul in 2024/25 marked the first time the 25-year-old has reached double figures in a Premier League season. His previous league tallies — four, nine, and nine — point to a steady upward curve, but the most recent campaign saw his development take a dramatic leap forward.
Add seven assists to the mix, and his 27 goal contributions firmly place him among Europe’s most productive players, a status underlined by the graphic below.
(Via Flourish)
Manchester United, meanwhile, are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements after scoring just 44 Premier League goals last season, the fifth-lowest total in the division. Alarmingly, their entire forward line — Rasmus Hojlund, Joshua Zirkzee, Chido Obi, Amad Diallo, and Alejandro Garnacho — managed 21 goals between them, just one more than Mbeumo alone.
While not a traditional number nine, Mbeumo’s proven goal record in England and his versatility in attacking positions make him an appealing asset to Ruben Amorim.The recent addition of the similarly adaptable Matheus Cunha from Wolves for a reported £62.5 million, after a season with 15 goals and seven assists, suggests a more efficient and balanced attack is in the making at Old Trafford.
However, with Bruno Fernandes’ uncertain future, and the likes of Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, and Antony returning from loan spells, United must offload players to ease their bloated wage bill and create space in the squad.
Despite interest from multiple Champions League clubs, Mbeumo’s decision to join a struggling United side, one that finished 15th and has no European football, may raise eyebrows. Yet it underlines the enduring power of the United in continuing to attract top talent, even in turbulent times.
Reinvestment and rebuilding: Who could step up next at Brentford?
Brentford’s Head of Recruitment, Lee Dykes, has been instrumental in building the club’s model of identifying undervalued talent, developing it, and selling players on for substantial profit. Standout examples include Ivan Toney, Ollie Watkins, and David Raya, who all signed from EFL sides for a combined £10 million and were sold for £95 million.
Bryan Mbeumo is the latest success story. Brought in from Ligue 2 side Troyes in 2019 for £5.8 million, the African is now expected to depart for a fee exceeding 10 times that amount.
On replacing Mbeumo, Frank toldViaplay: “It is clear that it is impossible to replace him one for one. It cannot be done. There is a reason why he costs x number of million pounds, and we do not have x number of million pounds to buy for.”
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Instead, the Bees are expected to spread the reinvestment across several under-the-radar signings. Potential attacking reinforcements include Celtic’s Nicolas Kühn, valued at under £30 million, PSV’s Johan Bakayoko, who rejected a £30 million move last summer, and Real Betis’ Assane Diao, whose release clause is set at £26 million.
Internally, Kevin Schade is seen as a key figure for the future. The 23-year-old German ended the season in electric form, and Frank made his expectations clear: “Kevin is probably the next one I need to step up. And I think that’s what we’ve been really good at—having the next goal scorer in the pipeline.”
Despite Brentford’s proven talent-replacement strategy, losing Mbeumo will hit hard. Bees fans will remember his six crucial years driving the club’s rise and Premier League success, but his move to United brings inevitable disappointment. He’s joining a team where many players have recently faltered and declined in value. But Mbeumo will be determined to break that cycle and carve out his own success.
Jon Harland
Jon is a sports journalist specialising in football while covering a range of sports. He uses his background in Philosophy to find deeper narratives within sport, delivering insightful and engaging stories. @jonharland_ jonianharland@gmail.com
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