Manchester United's Mbeumo Pursuit Hits Roadblock amid Brentford's Steep Demands

Manchester United kicked off their summer transfer window with a bang by signing Matheus Cunha in a £62.5 million deal. But since then, things have slowed down dramatically at Old Trafford. Their next big target, Bryan Mbeumo, remains out of reach—for now.

United have been in talks with Brentford for weeks over a deal for the Cameroonian winger, who has made it clear he wants to join the Red Devils. But Brentford are digging in their heels. What looked like a near-done deal in late June has now turned into a frustrating standoff. Initially, United felt confident a £65 million package would be enough to land the 25-year-old. Even Brentford privately hinted that a medical was around the corner. But then came a twist—Brentford raised their valuation to closer to £70 million. That’s where the trouble started. 

Brentford have upped their asking price for Bryan Mbeumo from £65M to £70M.

Manchester United do not want to pay more than £65M.

(Source: Guardian) pic.twitter.com/an7CKmOsHa

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) July 17, 2025

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and director of football Jason Wilcox are refusing to be pushed around. United have already seen a £55 million bid turned down and followed it up with an improved £62.5 million offer. But Brentford rejected that too. The message from the Bees is clear: they’re not selling unless the price is right—by their standards. 

Brentford do have some leverage. While Mbeumo’s contract expires next summer, the club hold an option to extend it by a year, which gives them more breathing room in negotiations. United, on the other hand, are weighing whether to stick with the chase or move on to other targets. 

Despite the uncertainty, Mbeumo remains focused on a move to Manchester. He’s shown no interest in offers from Newcastle United or Tottenham Hotspur. That kind of commitment is rare in today’s market, but it hasn’t changed Brentford’s stance. Brentford’s director of football, Phil Giles, summed it up clearly: “We’ve made our point clear. If Bryan earned a massive move now and it was right for us financially, we’d be open to it. But if he ended up here with us next season, I wouldn’t be massively surprised. We’d be delighted. And it would save me a massive headache, frankly.” 

In the background, Brentford are already planning for a future without Mbeumo. They’ve identified Ipswich Town’s Omari Hutchinson as a possible replacement, in case their star forward does end up leaving. For now, though, Manchester United have a decision to make—keep pushing for Mbeumo or switch their attention elsewhere. 

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