Bryan Mbeumo celebrates after scoring for Brentford against Wolves at Molineux.
Bryan Mbeumo scored 20 Premier League goals in 2024/25.
Having already secured Matheus Cunha's signature, some Manchester United supporters must have felt the need to pinch themselves after learning of Bryan Mbeumo's desire to move to Old Trafford.
Just over 24 hours after United announced the £62.5million arrival of Cunha from Wolves, it emerged Mbeumo had informed Brentford's hierarchy of his eagerness to move to M16. United have since held talks with the Londoners and had a £55m offer turned down last week.
However, discussions remain ongoing and United are expected to lodge a new and improved bid for the 25-year-old, who netted 20 Premier League goals for the Bees this season. It is thought Brentford will demand a similar fee to what the Reds paid for Cunha.
Understandably, the prospect of Mbeumo being added to United's attack has increased the excitement levels among the fans.
With that said, here are four reasons why signing Mbeumo would make such perfect sense for United and head coach Ruben Amorim:
Premier League proven
After turning to Italy for each of their last two attacking signings, it is nice to see United looking closer to home this summer. Cunha scored 15 goals in the league this season and Mbeumo netted 20, meaning they are well established in England's top flight.
Since the beginning of the 2023/24 campaign, the duo have netted 56 Premier League goals between them, meaning they have established consistent records. Mbeumo, who has predominantly played out wide during his time at Brentford, has scored a respectable 42 goals in four Premier League seasons since the Bees were promoted in 2021.
United last signed out-and-out attackers from Premier League counterparts on permanent deals in the 2017/18 season, swooping for Romelu Lukaku and Alexis Sanchez. At this particular juncture, United are much wiser to go for ready-made talents that are already proven in England.
Multi-functional
United's attack has lacked a multi-functional operator in recent seasons, meaning the prospect of Mbeumo arriving from west London would add another string to their bow. Traditionally a right-winger, he can also play through the middle as a No.9.
Bryan Mbeumo is a versatile operator. (Image: Alex Davidson/Getty Images.)
In Amorim's 3-4-2-1 system, the expectation is Mbeumo would operate as the right-sided No.10, operating close to the centre-forward United so desperately crave. However, the Cameroonian is also capable of playing as a striker himself, meaning he could operate centrally if asked to do so by Amorim.
Furthermore, his power, pace and aggression mean he could play on the right flank as a wing-back. He is also renowned for his defensive work and willingness to track back.
Left-footed option
With the exception of Amad, United do not currently have another left-footed player who can realistically operate as one of the two No.10s, making the club's pursuit of Mbeumo all the more understandable. The Brentford man is renowned for drifting inside from the right.
Amorim, last December, outlined his personal preference to have a left-footed player in the right-sided No.10 role, meaning it quickly became easy to understand why Amad was often tasked with playing in that role after initially being deployed at right wing-back after Amorim's appointment in November.
Also hinting that Amad's long-term position could be at wing-back, it makes all the more sense for United to pursue Mbeumo's signature. He is a perfect fit for the role Amorim so desperately wants to strengthen.
Adds goals
Most importantly, Mbeumo will add goals to United's blunt attack. The Reds scored just 44 goals in the Premier League this season, meaning they only managed to score 24 more as a collective than Mbeumo did on his own.
Bryan Mbeumo is a reliable goalscorer. (Image: Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images.)
Mbeumo has been a regular source of goals and assists in Brentford's attack since their promotion from the Championship four years ago, contributing 28 assists in addition to his 42 goals. Marcus Rashford (131) and Bruno Fernandes (113) are the only current United players with more direct goal involvements in the Premier League than Mbeumo (70).
With that in mind, signing Mbeumo is a no-brainer. United need to inject goals, creativity and flair into their attack.