Manchester United transfer news as Ruben Amorim faces looking at alternatives for Bryan Mbeumo
Manchester United face the possibility of conceding defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the race to land Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo. Reports this week have claimed that the forward is now considering a move to the capital after Thomas Frank joined Spurs.
Sky Sports have reported that Mbeumo views Spurs as 'intriguing' after previous reports earlier this month suggested United had been confident of signing the right-sided winger.
The Manchester Evening News understands that the 25-year-old remained focused on a move to Old Trafford this week after United submitted a bid of £45million, plus £10m in add-ons - which was rejected.
Tottenham's interest in the versatile forward has provided United with an unwanted headache after feeling they had received enough reassurances from Mbeumo that Manchester was his preferred destination.
Ruben Amorim has already missed out on one of his early transfer window targets after Liam Delap decided to join Chelsea. The prospect of failing to land Mbeumo would leave United back to square one in the hunt for another attacking reinforcement.
Fortunately, there is an array of talented, attack-minded players who will be eager to move to the Premier League and make the next step in their career. PSV Eindhoven's Johan Bakayoko, who has just one year left on his deal, is said to be available for £17m and could be a player United turn to.
The Belgium international has been linked with the likes of Arsenal, Tottenham and Liverpool in recent years. Bakayoko scored 12 goals and assisted three last season after scoring and assisting 14 in 2023/24.
In the summer of 2024, the 22-year-old admitted his ambition to make the next step in his career. "It is also possible that I will leave next year, but I still have to discuss it carefully with my agent. It will also partly depend on PSV, where I will play next season," he said.
"I can handle a place at the top. If I were to leave Eindhoven, it would only be to a club that plays for trophies, just like PSV. Becoming champion is what I want. And win the Champions League. I have the qualities for that.
"PSV has won the title and achieved something again in Europe. That mission has been completed, but now we have to see whether there will be a next mission and what the club has left for me."
After revealing his ambition of winning the Ballon d'Or, Bakayoko could be on the move this summer, with Dutch outlet ED.NL suggesting PSV 'would like to sell him' due to his contract length shortening.
Ruud van Nistelrooy, former United striker, assistant manager and interim head coach, worked with the winger at PSV and integrated him into the first-team back in 2022. "You can see that he has power and also a good shot," he said.
"He plays such controlled football that you forget that he is only 18. If he continues to invest so much in what he does, he is a boy who is on the right track to join the first team at the end of the season."