Liverpool FC v West Ham United FC - Premier League
Arne Slot has been urged to hijack Manchester United’s transfer move (Picture: Getty)
Emile Heskey wants Liverpool to hijack a Manchester United transfer deal as the Reds look to bolster Arne Slot’s squad this summer.
Liverpool have already signed Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen and are closing in on a huge deal for his former teammate Florian Wirtz.
The Anfield club are also pushing to sign Milos Kerkez from Bournemouth and want to sign another attacker to strengthen Slot’s attacking firepower.
Liverpool won the Premier League by ten points last season but know reinforcements are needed ahead of their title defence with Manchester City expected to come back stronger and Arsenal well-placed for another title tilt.
At the other end of the table, Manchester United made Matheus Cunha their first summer signing and are now working on a deal for Bryan Mbeumo.
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Mbeumo has verbally agreed a move to Old Trafford but United are yet to meet Brentford’s £60m valuation for a player who scored 20 Premier League goals last season.
The Cameroon international was linked with Tottenham and Newcastle United before Manchester United emerged as the frontrunners to secure his signature.
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC v Brentford FC - Premier League
Bryan Mbeumo has agreed to join Man Utd (Picture: Getty)
But Heskey wishes Mbeumo was heading for his former club Liverpool, insisting he would have been a perfect addition to Slot’s squad.
‘It’s hard to ever say Liverpool make mistakes in the market, because their strategy is usually just so solid,’ the former England striker told Prime Casino.
‘I would have loved to have seen Bryan Mbeumo at Anfield with Liverpool though. He’s got loads going for him.
Who have Man Utd and Liverpool signed?
Manchester United
In: Matheus Cunha
Out: Christian Eriksen, Jonny Evans, Victor Lindelof
Liverpool
In: Jeremie Frimpong, Giorgi Mamardashvili, Armin Pecsi
Out: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Caoimhin Kelleher
‘He was someone that is tried and tested in the Premier League for a few years as well. His work rate’s astounding. He knows where the goal is. He’s very, very technical and understands the way that Liverpool would want to play.
‘So it was interesting to see that they never really went in for him.’
Mbeumo looks set to join a Manchester United team that finished just 15th in the Premier League last season and will not be involved in any European competition next year.
Why struggling Man Utd still appealed to Mbeumo and Cunha
Asked how United were able to attract Mbeumo and Cunha despite their dismal 2024-25 campaign, Heskey added: ‘The thing is with United is that they still have the pull to attract players.
‘Normally, Mbeumo would be wanting Champions League football, knowing what the club are going to do.
‘Even now, without Europe, in a transitional phase, United can still get hold of players like him and Matheus Cunha.
‘It’s a bit like when I chose Liverpool, who weren’t yet at their best. I always supported Liverpool, but I always wanted to be in on the ground floor on their comeback.
‘I understood the assignment, and I saw where things were going if they went well.
‘Mbeumo probably feels the same. He can be part of something that can be great again.
‘Let’s be honest, it’s Liverpool and Manchester United when you’re abroad. They’re the only two clubs who matter to the rest of the world.’
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