Bryan Mbeumo’s future takes surprise twist as Man Utd’s Premier League rivals step in to hijack deal
A fresh twist has emerged in the transfer saga surrounding Brentford’s star forward Bryan Mbeumo, as a second Premier League club has now thrown its hat into the ring for his signature. While Manchester United had appeared to be in pole position to land the talented Cameroon international, new reports indicate that Tottenham Hotspur have officially joined the race, potentially complicating matters for Erik ten Hag’s side.
According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, Mbeumo has expressed a desire to leave Brentford this summer and is keen on a move to Old Trafford. If the deal were to materialize, the 24-year-old winger would become Manchester United’s second signing of the current transfer window, following the high-profile acquisition of Brazilian striker Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee of £62.5 million.
Mbeumo is coming off the most prolific season of his career, having scored 20 goals in the Premier League—his highest tally since joining the Bees and a remarkable achievement in any division. Given his performance, it initially seemed that United would face little resistance in securing his services. However, that assumption has quickly changed.
The Sun reports that Tottenham Hotspur have now entered the fray with a serious intent to sign Mbeumo and are reportedly willing to table a bid of £60 million to lure him to north London. This renewed competition could potentially derail United’s plans, particularly given Spurs’ strategic advantage in one critical area—Champions League football.
Adding further intrigue to the situation, Spurs recently parted ways with manager Ange Postecoglou, despite the Australian leading them to a Europa League title with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in Bilbao last month. The decision to sack Postecoglou has sparked backlash among sections of the Spurs fanbase, especially after club chairman Daniel Levy opted not to publicly address the dismissal in either his season-end review or the official press release.
Tottenham are now heavily linked with appointing Brentford boss Thomas Frank as Postecoglou’s successor. Frank, who has managed the Bees since 2018, is reportedly open to the move, and Spurs are prepared to trigger the £10 million release clause in his contract to bring him to north London.
Should Frank make the switch, Mbeumo is expected to be one of his top transfer priorities. The existing relationship between player and manager could give Spurs an edge in negotiations, as well as the allure of Champions League football—something United cannot currently offer.
If the deal goes through, Mbeumo would become Tottenham’s second signing of the summer, following the club’s £20 million obligation to permanently sign centre-back Kevin Danso. The north London club appears determined to bolster their squad ahead of their return to Europe’s top-tier competition, and Mbeumo’s pace, creativity, and goal-scoring form make him a highly attractive target.
With both Manchester United and Tottenham now vying for the same player—and Brentford potentially set to lose both their manager and a key player—the battle for Bryan Mbeumo’s signature could become one of the most compelling storylines of the summer transfer window.