Manchester United are set to negotiate with Brentford over a move for forward Bryan Mbeumo.
Gone are the days of ‘tapping up’ allegations. Now it is a regular strategy for clubs and players to connect via agents and ascertain a mutual desire to do business. And only afterwards – a team will make an approach to the player’s club.
This is playing out in real time with Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, who is keen to move to Manchester United.
Now Manchester United must meet Brentford’s demands, with the Premier League side wanting a fee similar to the £62.5 million the Red Devils have already paid for Matheus Cunha.
Manchester United will not be held to ransom however. Those days are over.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Manchester United have an unwelcome history of overpaying for players. This came up routinely during the Ed Woodward era, but actually got worse under Richard Arnold’s oversight.
The summer of 2023 saw United splash £82 million on Antony and £64 million on Rasmus Hojlund, the worst of several excesses, and Ineos had to try to reset the culture when they took over in the 2024 transfer window.
Ineos have only broken the £50 million barrier twice, spending £52 million on Leny Yoro, and now £62.5 million on Matheus Cunha.
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Last summer Ineos were hit with a demand for £70 million from Everton in negotiations for Jarrad Branthwaite.
United refused to pay up, called Everton’s bluff and simply walked away. They then went on to secure a deal for Leny Yoro instead.
This set the tone for the rest of the summer, showing United were not a club who can be held to ransom any more.
Ineos task with Bryan Mbeumo
Manchester United hold the cards with Bryan Mbeumo clearly desiring a Manchester United move amid his wish for a new challenge.
But there is competition, and United must not allow negotiations to drag out, to the point where Mbeumo gets impatient and questions how much the club actually want him, allowing another side to steal in.
The club’s initial bid of £45 million plus 10 million in add-on has been rejected. United are expected to return with a new offer.
United need to get this deal done for a fair price, and try to push the fee down below £60 million.
What they can’t do is be taken for a ride and allow Brentford to push a fee up for £70 million, or higher.
That’s exactly what would have happened in the past, and United would have paid it, highlighted by the excessive transfer spends of the past.
Ratcliffe has already shown Ineos won’t be held to ransom, and if prices get ridiculous, they will simply walk away and look elsewhere.