Man Utd furious over Bryan Mbeumo transfer actions amid Newcastle accusation

Manchester United completed the signing of Bryan Mbeumo on Monday in a deal worth up to £71 million, yet behind the scenes, the transfer left Old Trafford executives fuming at Premier League rivals Brentford.

The frustration stems not from the price tag but from Brentford’s conduct during negotiations, which United believe crossed ethical lines.

Club sources claim Brentford made deliberate attempts to steer Mbeumo towards rival clubs—specifically Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur—despite the player’s long-standing desire to join Manchester United.

From the beginning of the transfer saga, Mbeumo had made it known that he viewed Manchester United as his dream destination.

However, Brentford, under new head coach Keith Andrews, reportedly tried to nudge the winger in another direction.

Brentford allegedly attempted to influence the outcome by urging Mbeumo to lower his wage demands in the hope of making him a more attractive option for Newcastle, a claim that United firmly push back against, insisting wage negotiations were never an obstacle.

Despite competition from Arsenal and a late effort from Chelsea to hijack the deal, Mbeumo stayed firm in his intention.

United had already seen two bids rejected as Brentford stood firm on their valuation, demanding £70 million upfront. Eventually, both parties settled on a fee of £65 million, potentially rising to £71 million with add-ons.

It was a substantial outlay for United, especially in light of a turbulent season that marked their lowest league finish in more than half a century. Still, the club considered the deal vital for their rebuild under Ruben Amorim.

Brentford’s transfer behaviour didn’t go unnoticed at United, who view the club’s tactics as borderline manipulative.

The expectation at Old Trafford is that when a player has expressed a clear desire to join a club, negotiations should be conducted in good faith rather than attempts made to redirect him elsewhere.

Brentford’s internal upheaval may have played a part in the messiness. Following Thomas Frank’s move to Tottenham, Keith Andrews took charge and recalibrated the club’s transfer approach.

Their eventual decision to pursue Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town as Mbeumo’s successor further complicated timelines, making negotiations more drawn out than United had hoped.

Mbeumo’s decision to reject Newcastle and Tottenham came down to more than financials or European competition. The player himself offered a clear explanation after sealing his switch to Manchester.

For him, joining United was about fulfilling a lifelong dream. He recalled wearing the club’s shirt as a child and spoke passionately about the opportunity to grow under Amorim’s management and play alongside some of the game’s biggest names.

He emphasized his ambition to constantly improve and spoke of the excitement surrounding the project being built at Old Trafford, praising the club’s plans, the size of the institution, and its iconic fanbase.

Newcastle had made Mbeumo a priority target after his standout campaign at Brentford, where his pace, creativity, and goal contributions turned heads across the league.

However, after evaluating the financials and receiving indications that the player wasn’t enthusiastic about a move to St James’ Park, they chose not to pursue the deal any further.

In the end, Mbeumo’s heart was set on Manchester and the lure of becoming a part of the next generation at one of football’s most storied clubs proved too strong to resist.