Manchester United make improved offer for Bryan Mbeumo worth up to £70m

Manchester United have stepped up their efforts to sign Bryan Mbeumo by making an improved offer to Brentford for the Cameroon international forward.The latest proposal is worth £65million plus £5m and is awaiting a response from the London club.The Athletic reported last month that Mbeumo had informed Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur of his decision to sign for Manchester United if he makes a transfer this summer.United saw an initial proposal of £45m plus £10m in add-ons for Mbeumo turned down before an improved offer of £55m plus £7.5m in bonuses was also rejected.Brentford have been aiming to receive a figure exceeding the £62.5m United paid Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Matheus Cunha this summer.Talks have continued as United attempt to find a compromise, with The Athletic first reporting on June 2 that Mbeumo wants to join the club,The 25-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at Brentford, who do have the option to extend his terms by a further 12 months.Admiration for Mbeumo at Spurs also increased after Thomas Frank moved from Brentford to become their new head coach. But he notified Tottenham and Brentford that should he depart the Gtech Community Stadium now, it will be for Old Trafford.Mbeumo, who joined Brentford from French side Troyes in 2019, scored 20 goals and provided eight assists as Brentford finished 10th in the Premier League last season.Mbeumo a good fit for AmorimAnalysis by Carl AnkaMbeumo is a good player and should fit whatever style of football Ruben Amorim wants to play next season at Manchester United.The Cameroonian scored 20 goals and provided eight assists for Brentford last season, establishing himself as one of the better forwards in the Premier League.He is versatile and efficient in front of goal. Give him the ball and he’ll look to get things done.Mbeumo has developed from a promising youngster in the Championship into a forward capable of taking on Champions League defences. He has been deployed in several roles at Brentford, impressing as a right winger in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 setup (playing off Ivan Toney), and thriving as a striker in a 3-5-2 alongside Yoane Wissa.He is direct. Naturally left-footed, but not shy about using his right, he excels when driving into space. A look at his goals and assists from last season shows a player who has favoured areas in and around the penalty area, and knows how to get to them consistently. His versatility is alluring but Mbeumo’s best fit would be as the right-sided No 10 in Amorim’s 3-4-3.A look at Mbeumo’s progressive carries from 2024-25 shows a left-footed player equally capable of cutting inside or getting chalk on his boots on the outside. If he were to join Amorim’s side, he would help provide additional angles of attack, making the team less one-dimensional in the final third.This is a Premier League-proven attacking player who wouldn’t require the same onboarding process that may come with alternative transfer targets.(Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)David Ornstein joined The Athletic in October 2019 after 12 years as a sports journalist and correspondent at the BBC. In the role of Football Correspondent, he is responsible for producing exclusive and original stories and interviews, offering unique insight and analysis. He works across video, audio and the written word. Follow David on Twitter @David_Ornstein