By Joseph Armstrong-Gardner
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Manchester United have reached an agreement with Brentford to sign forward Bryan Mbeumo.
After weeks of negotiations, a deal worth up to £71million ($95.5m) has finally been struck.
It comprises an initial £65m, to be paid in four instalments, plus a maximum of £6m in bonuses.
The right winger is reported to have signed a five-year contract at Old Trafford, earning £150,000 per week.
Brentford had been seeking a fee that exceeded the £62.5m United paid Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign Matheus Cunha earlier in the window.
Mbeumo scored 70 goals and registered 51 assists in 242 games for Brentford since joining in 2019 from Troyes. He netted 20 goals and registered seven assists in the Premier League last season – both career highs.
“Bryan’s goals and assists record in the Premier League is exceptional, his remarkable consistency has put him among the most productive players in England for the last three seasons,” said United director of football Jason Wilcox.
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In terms of the landscape of the Premier League, Mbuemo was only 9 goals shy of Salah’s golden boot total of 29. The constant development and improvement of Mbuemo could result in him challenging once again for the golden boot, and last season’s tally of 20 goals can be perceived as a warning for what Mbuemo is capable of in the upcoming campaign.
Based on Mbuemo’s spectacular numbers for Brentford, United know they are acquiring a proficient right winger who will provide a consistent goal threat.
Mbuemo’s goals come from all over the pitch, with him most notably excelling at penalties recently, which could provide competition for the Red Devils’ current penalty taker, Bruno Fernandes, as former Brentford manager Thomas Frank claimed, “Mbuemo’s the Premier League’s best penalty taker”.
Bryan Mbuemo told recent sources that Manchester United is the “club of his dreams”. This is integral for the future and current status of United as a significant group of players at the club don’t manifest the passion that Mbuemo will bring, to hopefully lift team morale after a disappointing 24/25 season, finishing 15th in the Premier League.
Additionally, the passion Mbuemo brings will attract future players to Man United who might otherwise have overlooked them as a potential destination, as seen with Mbuemo already trying to persuade Ollie Watkins (a former Brentford teammate) to join Manchester United.
Bryan Mbuemo will almost certainly be a starter at Old Trafford with United’s two other right wingers, Antony and Jadon Sancho, both on their way out of the club, which enables the possibility for breakout star Amad to obtain even more game time in the upcoming season, despite the astute acquisition of Mbuemo.
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In addition to the brilliant signing of Matheus Cunha, Mbuemo will no doubt improve United’s chances of winning silverware next season with his elite mentality, despite only being 25 years of age.
He recently showcased this in an interview where he stated, “My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday”.