Man Utd latest: What is holding back Reds move for Mbeumo as transfer drags

Manchester United have been hotly pursuing Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo but here is what is holding back the deal.

The summer transfer window is shaping up to be one of the most pivotal in recent club history, following their lowest-ever Premier League finish last season.

The club ended the 2024-25 campaign in 15th place, prompting manager Ruben Amorim and the new INEOS leadership to pursue a major squad overhaul.

United have already made significant moves in the market, including the high-profile signing of Matheus Cunha from Wolves for €74.2 million, and the acquisition of promising Paraguayan talent Diego Leon from Cerro Porteno.

But United have made two offers for Mbeumo which have been turned down with the first £55 million and another which would reach £63 million with all conditions reached byt Brentford are holding out for £65 million, reported the Manchester Evening News.

The club’s transfer strategy is heavily influenced by the need to balance the books and comply with financial regulations, especially after missing out on European football for the coming season.

A number of high-earning players, including Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia, and Alejandro Garnacho, have all been linked with permanent exits this summer.

These players, many of whom spent last season out on loan, command substantial wages that complicate their potential departures.

United may need to subsidize salaries or accept lower transfer fees to facilitate moves, a reality that could drag negotiations into the latter stages of the window.

United have submitted an improved bid of over £60 million for the Cameroon international, and are confident that player sales—particularly of big names like Rashford or Garnacho—could help fund such major arrivals.

The transfer window itself is unusual this year, split into two parts due to the Club World Cup, with the final deadline on September 1.

United’s preference is to resolve key departures and arrivals before their pre-season tour of the United States, but sources suggest that late summer deals may be necessary to achieve their squad overhaul1.

As pre-season training begins and the first friendly against Leeds approaches on July 19, United’s transfer activity is expected to intensify, with both outgoings and incomings likely to define their prospects for the 2025-26 campaign