Manchester United want Bryan Mbeumo, who scored 20 Premier League goals last season for Brentford, as their second summer signing after the £62.5million arrival of Matheus Cunha from Wolves
Manchester United have been told to forget trying to sign Bryan Mbeumo on the cheap – with Brentford wanting upwards of £60million for the forward. United have targeted Cameroon star Mbeumo as their second summer signing, having already recruited Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m after triggering his release clause.
But Brentford are understood to value Mbeumo as the same value as Cunha and are not prepared to accept anything less than a similar price if they are to let him leave this summer. Brentford are also said to be willing to hold out until deadline day on September 1 if that is what it takes for United to meet their asking price for 25-year-old Mbeumo.
The Bees are under no pressure to sell Mbeumo, with the club holding an option to exercise an extra year on his current deal, which still has one season left to run. Against that backdrop, they are relaxed about Mbeumo's situation, with the pressure on United to meet their valuation if they are serious about wanting the player.
United are facing additional pressure in their pursuit of Mbeumo, with his Brentford team-mate and fellow forward Yoane Wissa, 28, the subject of interest from Saudi Pro League clubs.
Brentford are unwilling to lose both Mbeumo and Wissa this summer, which means if the latter does secure a big-money move to a Saudi club, United face losing out on the former if they leave it too late.
United boss Ruben Amorim is convinced Mbeumo, who scored 20 goals and provided eight assists last season for Brentford, would be an ideal fit for his 3-4-3 system.
Amorim sees Cunha and Mbeumo operating either side of a striker, with skipper Bruno Fernandes – who is committed to United after turning down a move to Saudi – operating in a deeper role.
Mbeumo's versatility is one of the reasons Amorim is so keen to sign him, with the forward able to operate in a variety of roles across the front line, including on the right and up front.
His pace, with and without the ball, allied to his ability to create and finish chances clinically, are qualities United are crying out for, with the burden having fallen squarely on Fernandes last season.