44 days, from the first offer to the third, this was the period of time Manchester United chased Bryan Mbeumo. 44 days is long enough for the "Red Devils" fans to sometimes feel that this deal is a scam, not really taking place, just an excuse for Brentford to value their star.
Man United have prepared everything since the first day to welcome Bryan Mbeumo. The "Red Devils" know that the Cameroonian striker has a priority at Old Trafford, despite invitations from other teams such as Newcastle, Tottenham and Arsenal. The salary Mbeumo received at Old Trafford has not been disclosed, but Man United is confident that it can be restructured so as not to exceed the salary ceiling according to regulations.
Man United sent a first offer to Mbeumo worth £45 million, plus a further £10 million in add-ons. Brentford believes that Man United has been clearly informed by intermediaries about the price range that can be closed (higher). Therefore, Brentford understood that this number was below the amount M.U could pay, so they quickly refused.
At that time, it was reported that Tottenham had offered up to £70 million. Spurs denied this information but it was an excuse for Brentford to use a new measure, forcing Man United to raise the price. The second proposal was sent, with the total Matheus Cunha bargaining value of £55 million, plus £7.5 million in add-ons. This time, the "Red Devils" are very confident but they were rejected by the "Bees".
After that, Brentford put pressure on Mbeumo to accept offers from higher paid teams like Newcastle. Brentford even suggested that Mbeumo should accept a lower salary at Man United so that the London team could collect a higher transfer fee. However, nothing has changed.
After Man United's second offer, Bryan Mbeumo informed Brentford and Tottenham that he only wanted to go to Old Trafford. This is an advantage for M.U because at that time, Brentford will have no choice but to sell Mbeumo to another team other than Man United. After offering different prices, Brentford finally sent Man United the desired figure of £70 million, plus £7 million in add-ons.
Man United's huge advantage is that Mbeumo only has 12 months left on his contract. Brentford have a self-extension clause until 2027, but this summer is the last chance for them to sell the Cameroonian striker for high prices. Mbeumo once affirmed after the 2023-2024 season that he will not sign a new contract, and will definitely leave Gtech Community Stadium.
Man United's leadership, from Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Ruben Amorim, Omar Berrada to Jason Wilcox, all agreed to prioritize buying players who have been confirmed to be capable in the Premier League. Last season, only Salah, Isak and Haaland scored more goals than Mbeumo. This is a very important factor for INEOS to spend money on this deal.
On July 19, Mbeumo was allowed to go to Manchester, to the VIP room at Old Trafford, at the same time Brentford flew to Portugal for training. On July 20, Mbeumo went to the Carrington area for a medical examination and signed a contract. M.U quickly applied for a visa for Mbeumo to complete all procedures, thereby being able to fly to the US for a tour.
Some inside sources at Man United admitted that the club had accepted to pay the highest price, which was partly above the real value of Bryan Mbeumo. However, due to Ruben Amorim's urgent needs, this investment is considered worthy.
