Bryan Mbeumo is a £ 50 million transfer target for Manchester United this summer – and the Brentford Forward is no stranger to making difficult decisions about his future
Bryan Mbeumo is on the edge of the biggest summer of his career while Manchester United chases his signature – but the Brentford star is no stranger to making big decisions. The 25-year-old attacker is ready to move in the summer transfer window after enjoying a striking season that put him in the spotlight.
Mbeumo achieved 20 goals and eight assists in 38 Premier League matches for Brentford this season and was one of the striking players of the competition. He is linked to Newcastle, Liverpool and Tottenham, but it is Manchester United who is considered the most enthusiastic of the £ 50 million appreciated.
De Bees -star wants to play European football – a factor that could count against United – after he had detected his way to the top of the Premier League attackers. Mbeumo has been to Brentford for six years and joined the French side Troyes when they were in the championship.
His form for Brentford has earned previously admiring looks – and simply not from rival clubs. In the summer of 2022 it was the legendary former Barcelona and Inter Milan striker Samuel Eto'o who kept an eye on him in his role as President of the Cameroon Football Federation.
Mbeumo was born in France and played for Les Bleus' from under 17 to under 21, but never received a senior call-up. His father comes from Cameroon and Eto'o came to Mbeumo with a proposal for the World Cup 2022.
“It was just the two of us, I met him in a restaurant,” Mbeumo told the Brentford Club website in November 2022. “He came to London to see me. I know from my father, who is a cameraer, that it could be a good chance.
“When he approached me in the first place, I didn't know if I would go or not. But after he had spoken to him, he explained to me about the project and I was happy with it. Then he gave me a little time to think about it before I gave my decision, and then I decided to play for them.
“I was a bit nervous to meet him! He is a legend of African football and football in general. I also asked him questions about a striker, how he did certain things, how he dealt with certain situations, and he gave me advice. About football with him was great.”
He added: “I am very proud of me and my family to represent the country. My father was very happy – I did this too for him. I knew how proud he would be and he felt great after I made my debut and played those two games.”
Mbeumo now has 22 caps and six goals for Cameroon and hopes to take the next step in his club career this summer. Although he wants to hold him, Brentford manager Thomas Frank knows that his star player is able to take a step further – even if it is for a team, such as United, who ended five places this season.
“He has been fantastic,” he told Sky Sports recently. “For me it has been a privilege to work with him for six years and see his development of a teenager, I think he was 19 when he came in many ways or a young man, to a more mature man. And I think that personal development is just as important.
“I always knew that he was a goal scorer. Now he is now just a more consistent goalscorer. His hold-up play is even better, his assist play or link-up play, his work ethics is fantastic. So very impressed.”