Manchester United have mostly been good in the transfer market since Ineos arrived but the message they’ve received after their first Bryan Mbeumo bid means Jason Wilcox’s first true test is here.
Probably the final executive structure change at Man Utd was recently confirmed with Sir Dave Brailsford taking a step back from active duty at the club.
Jason Wilcox is now the Director of Football, a promotion of sorts from his previous Technical Director position,
Almost immediately, he faces his first true test if the three-word message United have received after their first bid for Bryan Mbeumo is any indication.
Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images
Fallout from Man Utd’s first Bryan Mbeumo bid
The first bid for Mbeumo was never going to hack it and United would have known that very well, which is why they started early in the window.
After paying Matheus Cunha’s release clause of £62.5 million, the parameter had already been set, while Brentford are hard to negotiate with anyway.
That is exactly what happened when the first bid for Mbeumo was rejected. While the talks will continue, the message United received was ominous.
As per the report, Brentford considered the £45 million+£10 million bid to be “well below level” of what they are looking for.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images
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The rejection was expected, what wasn’t expected were those three words “well below level” for a bid that was worth £55 million.
The question must be asked – if Brentford consider £55 million to be well below level, then should United really entertain them in negotiations that could easily reach beyond Cunha’s fee?
That’s where Jason Wilcox’s first true test lies.
Mbeumo negotiation is Jason Wilcox’s true test
So far, Wilcox has had quite a good role at Man Utd. He’s been able to do what he does best – scout and sign younger players with the eventual aim of making the first team.
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
In that role, the risk is low and the potential reward is high. For example, a signing like Ayden Heaven for £1 million arrives under zero pressure to succeed.
If he does, it’s a masterstroke by Wilcox and if he doesn’t, then it’s just £1 million as youth development is sometimes a lottery anyway.
The scenario couldn’t be more different with the senior team transfers, where Wilcox will make his presence felt now.
Right away, Brentford are posing as a difficult opponent for him in Mbeumo negotiations, and it is up to Wilcox to get a good deal for United.
He can’t be seen getting rinsed like Woodward or Murtough regularly did, especially not in the first negotiation he’s the public face of.
A fee around Cunha’s ballpark will be acceptable but that will take quite some negotiating if that three-word warning after the first bid is any indication.