Manchester United have been locked in talks with Brentford over the signing of Bryan Mbeumo since June with no resolution as of yet
Manchester United could reportedly be on the verge of missing out on Bryan Mbeumo this summer after Tottenham Hotspur opened interest in his Brentford teammate Yoane Wissa.
Wissa and Mbeumo have been a formidable partnership for the Bees and with 19 and 20 goals scored respectively between them in the Premier League. The Cameroonian has drawn interest from United and they have been locked in negotiations with Brentford for his signature since last month.
MEN Sport understands that two offers have been rejected so far for Mbeumo but there is still confidence from United that they will be able to get a deal done. However, a spanner appears to have been thrown into the works on Wednesday.
Multiple reports, including from BBC Sport, claim that Thomas Frank has instructed Spurs to target Wissa this transfer window. Tottenham are currently understood to be weighing up the financials surrounding the deal.
Frank had wanted to bring Mbeumo with him to north London, but was informed the 25-year-old would be leaving for Old Trafford or not at all in the summer. This has led Tottenham to reassess their options and Wissa is thought to be keen on a move to Spurs.
Unfortunately for United, journalist Ben Jacobs understands that Brentford are only willing to let Wissa or Mbeumo leave, not both. This means that should Wissa agree terms with Spurs, the move for Mbeumo could be scuppered completely.
The good news for United is that they are clearly in a more advanced stage in their negotiations to sign Mbeumo so have the upper hand there. But, it has been claimed that Mbeumo is happy to stay at Brentford so the Reds cannot rely on the forward forcing a move from the club should the Bees decide not to sell.
It seems United are now in a position where they must come to a quick agreement with Brentford for Mbeumo or risk missing out.
Here at The Manchester Evening News, we are dedicated to bringing you the best Manchester United coverage and analysis.
Make sure you don't miss out on the latest United news by joining our free WhatsApp group. You can get all the breaking news and best analysis sent straight to your phone by clicking here to subscribe.
You can also subscribe to our free newsletter service. Click here to be sent all the day's biggest stories.