The Mirror

Man Utd's true feelings on Bryan Mbeumo transfer U-turn as Spurs attempt to hijack deal

Bryan Mbeumo is being chased by both Manchester United and Tottenham, with Spurs looking to take advantage of their recent appointment of Thomas Frank as their new manager

Manchester United are remaining relaxed over their move for Bryan Mbeumo with Tottenham still attempting to hijack the deal. Mbeumo grabbed the attention of top Premier League clubs with a stunning season for Brentford.

After Ivan Toney's move to the Saudi Pro League, Mbeumo became the Bees' main man. He duly stepped into that role, scoring 20 league goals to help Thomas Frank's side to finish 10th in the top-flight.

He has one year to run on his contract, with a club-held option for another 12 months. The London side are likely watching with relish as an auction over Mbeumo emerges between United and Spurs.

Both sides are keen to add to their attacking options, with Tottenham also hoping to use the fact that Frank is now their manager to their advantage. United saw a £55million offer rejected before Spurs moved for Frank.

And now the Dane is in place across the capital, Mbeumo is more open to joining his boss at the Europa League champions. If Mbeumo did snub a move to Old Trafford to join Spurs, it would be a major blow to United's summer plans.

They have already missed out on signing Liam Delap, with the Englishman opting to join Chelsea instead. Despite the threat of Mbeumo also snubbing them, BBC Sport claim that United are 'not concerned' that their move for the attacker will fall through.

Mbeumo spoke out on the speculation around his future ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday. While he wished Frank well, United are not reading anything into his interview.

Spurs have held initial discussions over a move, but Mbeumo's future is currently in something of a holding pattern. He was quizzed on the speculation on Sunday, but opted to largely avoid making any definitive statement.

"It (transfer speculation) is a bit new for me I would say! I think it can be the life of a footballer and you need to accept it," Mbeumo told Sky Sports.

"It's been my best season so far in the Premier League. And even collectively, I think we did play very good games. I think we've been unlucky to chase the Europe spot, but I think it's been a fantastic season.

"He's [Frank] done so much for me. He literally trusted me from the start. I think he developed the team so well. He developed me as a human and a player as well. So I can only wish him all the best, and I'm sure he's going to do well.

"I think he knows everything. He's really smart. He knows where he wants to bring the team, how he wants to play. I think he's been fantastic for Brentford. I think he's going to have some time to adapt, obviously.

"[ Champions League ] games, more expectations, as you said, but I'm sure he's going to do well. He knows how to talk to people. He knows how to build a group. And that's why we've been playing so well."

THE BIG DEBATE: Manchester United were in the driving seat to sign Bryan Mbeumo but former Brentford boss Thomas Frank now wants to convince the forward to join him at Tottenham

After a stellar season in the Premier League, Bryan Mbeumo finds himself at the centre of a transfer tug-of-war between Manchester United and Tottenham this summer.

The Brentford talisman, 25, is believed to have his heart set on a move to Old Trafford despite the Red Devils' calamitous 2024-25 campaign. But developments at Spurs, where Thomas Frank has been appointed as the club's new manager, has thrown a spanner into the works.

Mirror Football revealed prior to the weekend that Tottenham had launched a huge bid to try and gazump their rivals and, crucially, can offer the Cameroon star Champions League football.

With Spurs pushing to beat United to a deal, Mbeumo now has plenty to ponder. So we asked the Mirror Football team what he should do next...

Jeremy Cross

Bryan Mbeumo has a big decision to make. But whatever he chooses, it will see him jump from the frying pan into the fire.

He can either join the madhouse that is Manchester United and have at least one season without European football, or go to Tottenham, play in Europe, but accept he is now part of a club which is one of the biggest under-achievers of modern times.

His heart might tell him United will get back to the big time, but his head will be saying Spurs is the safest option. But wherever he ends up, Mbeumo will face the biggest challenge of his career.

Andy Dunn

It is hard for a lot of people to stomach but for all its recent troubles, Manchester United is still a club with a truly special allure.

It is still a club with a remarkable domestic and global fanbase, it is still a club that could fill a 100,000-seater stadium week in, week out, it is still a club with a wonderfully storied past. In short, it is still an iconic footballing institution. If and when the club becomes a major Premier League force again, it will be the biggest story in town and that is why Mbeumo should fancy the move to Old Trafford ahead of the move to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

There are several obvious reasons why Spurs is an attractive proposition but the idea of being part of an exciting United rebuild should be an enticing one. And anyhow, the importance of what will surely turn out to be a Champions League struggle for Spurs is probably overstated.

The talk is that Mbeumo’s heart tells him United … and he should go with his heart.

John Cross

Bryan Mbeumo should go to Tottenham. The Brentford forward is a serious player and moving to Tottenham, with his old boss Thomas Frank, would propel him to another level into the Champions League.

In many ways I admire his ambition and why he wants to move to Manchester United. They are still such a big club with amazing tradition and great pulling power. To be part of a team - him on one side with Matheus Cunha on the other - could be really special if they suddenly reignite a sleeping giant. But what a gamble.

And I refuse to believe it’s just about money and United offering more. Players earn huge wages and United are clearly trying to sell the dream. But Tottenham can offer European football.

Mbeumo is a terrific player One former Premier League manager, who has scouted and discovered countless players, is convinced he is elite level and even likened him to Mo Salah. That good.

His pace, skill, control and stats make him a huge star. He must choose well - because he has got the lot.

Chris McKenna

Bryan Mbeumo should be a man of his word. If he’s told Manchester United he wants to join them then he should go through with that.

What’s changed in the last few weeks? OK his boss at Brentford has joined Tottenham but are Tottenham suddenly in a different position? He knew they had Champions League football weeks ago and he knew United didn’t. If he told United he was sold on their project then not enough has changed since then for him to turn on his heels.

But that still needs United to pay up the money and if they don’t then the player will have to make a choice.

Jurgen Klopp once said he wanted players to push the train rather than ones who just want to jump on it. Mbeumo now has a decision to make which player he wants to be as United look to rebuild.

Daniel Marsh

Bryan Mbeumo should absolutely stick to his guns if Manchester United is the dream ticket.

Tottenham can offer Champions League football and, of course, the lure of working with Thomas Frank again. But as a player approaching his peak years the challenge of restoring an institution like Manchester United to their former glory is surely just as appealing.

The biggest factor here is that United are yet to strike a deal. Given they were leading a one-horse race before Frank swapped Brentford for Spurs, the onus is on them to make this happen.

Forget about what Mbeumo should do next, United have to get this done if they are serious about rebuilding; that's how highly I rate Mbeumo.

Tom Victor

If I were in Bryan Mbeumo’s position, I might find myself wondering why Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur represent the only offers seemingly on the table. Only three players scored more Premier League goals than the Cameroonian last season, and yet his options appear to involve either staying put or moving to a club which finished several spots below his Brentford side this season.

Mbeumo will be 26 when the new season begins. His peak years are approaching, but he can’t parlay that 20-goal season into more of a sure thing when it comes to locking in sustained Champions League football - with his two suitors mustering a combined two knockout ties in the competition this decade.

Of the two options, Tottenham looks to be the slightly better fit. A reunion with Thomas Frank speaks for itself, while a first crack at Champions League football for a player still playing second-tier football as recently as 2021 may well be an opportunity he can’t resist.

Yes, the potential upside at Old Trafford may feel greater, but how many others have thought the same in recent years only to find themselves lamenting wasted seasons. Spurs feels like the best option, even if Mbeumo might wonder why there isn’t something even better available to him.

Daniel Orme

It’s certainly a tricky decision for Mbeumo. It basically boils down to money or European football so it depends on what the Brentford forward wants from his career.

Given the investment that the Red Devils are making this summer, it might not actually be too long before they return to the Champions League and given that Old Trafford is his preferred option, it might make more sense to go there - but it is a big gamble.

However, with Thomas Frank being appointed by Spurs, he will know exactly how to make a success of him North London. And should he manage to replicate the form he has shown over recent seasons in Brentford, there is no reason why Mbeumo can’t play in the Champions League over the coming seasons with Spurs.

And while it might not have been in his thinking yet, a move to North London means he will not have to uproot anything. So as it stands, Spurs would potentially be the better option.

Tottenham and Manchester United are both trying to convince Bryan Mbeumo to sign for them this summer and now Spurs are weighing up a move for another star admired by their rivals

Tottenham are said to be eyeing up a deal for long-term Manchester United target Jarrad Branthwaite as they continue to map out their plans for the summer transfer window under Thomas Frank.

Spurs are anticipating a busy summer after choosing to replace Ange Postecoglou with Frank. And the Dane will be backed in the transfer market after the north London outfit booked their spot in the Champions League with victory in last month's Europa League final.

Mirror Football revealed last week how Spurs have already sprung into action to try and rival Manchester United for Brentford talisman, Bryan Mbeumo.

And a new report now claims that Tottenham have their sights set on another player admired by United in Branthwaite. The Everton defender, 22, was the subject of a £50million bid from United last summer but is now on Spurs' radar, according to The Mail.

It's said that Tottenham could even formalise their interest later this week, although Everton are thought to consider Branthwaite as not for sale this summer.

David Moyes is eager to keep the highly-rated centre half as the club ramp up their own preparations for the 2025-26 campaign, where they will officially grace their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock for the first time.

But Branthwaite is understood to be keen to step up to the next level with Spurs able to offer the former Carlisle United man Champions League football.

While it remains to be seen if United have plans to revisit a deal for Branthwaite, they are very keen on bringing Mbeumo to Old Trafford after already wrapping up the capture of Matheus Cunha from Wolves.

The Brentford star refused to be drawn on his future during an impromptu interview at the Canadian Grand Prix but he did tip his old Bees boss, Frank, to do well at Spurs.

"He's done so much for me," Mbeumo told Sky Sports. "He literally trusted me from the start [at Brentford] and he developed the team so well. He developed me as a human and a player so much as well. I can only wish him all the best and I'm sure he's going to do well."

He added: "He knows everything; he's really smart and knows what he wants to bring the team, how he wants them to play. He's been fantastic for Brentford."

Manchester United and Tottenham are both hoping to sign Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo this summer after the 25-year-old netted 20 Premier League goals in 38 games last season

Manchester United reportedly remain confident that they will win the race to sign Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo, despite Tottenham's attempts to hijack the deal. Spurs made a play for Mbeumo after appointing Thomas Frank as their new manager.

Frank managed Mbeumo for six years at Brentford and Tottenham are able to offer the 25-year-old Champions League football, having qualified for the tournament by beating United 1-0 to win the Europa League.

Mirror Football understands that Spurs have made a £70million offer for Mbeumo which is worth an initial £65m plus £5m in add-ons. However, the Manchester Evening News are now reporting that United remain the frontrunners.

It is claimed that Mbeumo still prefers a move to United over Tottenham, despite hailing the impact Frank has had on his career while attending the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday. When asked about his future, Mbeumo told Sky Sports : "It (speculation) is a bit new for me I would say!

"I think it can be the life of a footballer and you need to accept it. It's been my best season so far in the Premier League. And even collectively, I think we did play very good games. I think we've been unlucky to chase the Europe spot, but I think it's been a fantastic season.

"He [Frank] has done so much for me. He literally trusted me from the start," Mbeumo said. "I think he developed the team so well.

"He developed me as a human and a player as well. So I can only wish him all the best, and I'm sure he's going to do well.

"I think he knows everything. He's really smart. He knows where he wants to bring the team, how he wants to play. I think he's been fantastic for Brentford.

"I think he's going to have some time to adapt, obviously. [Champions League] games, more expectations, as you said, but I'm sure he's going to do well.

"He knows how to talk to people. He knows how to build a group. And that's why we've been playing so well.

"It's big shoes to fill. I think, (Frank had) seven years as a head coach. So, obviously it's going to be changing, but let's see."

Antonio Conte explains what angered him at Tottenham - 'You don't celebrate these things'

Former Tottenham manager Antonio Conte has reflected on his time in charge of the club and the Napoli boss has detailed one moment in particular which shocked him

Antonio Conte has opened up about his time in charge of Tottenham and taken a dig at the club for celebrating for a top-four finish. Conte joined Spurs in November 2021 after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked and they went on to finish fourth that season.

Spurs finished two points ahead of fierce rivals Arsenal after beating them 3-0 in a North London derby clash with just two games left to play. As a result, Tottenham qualified for the Champions League and Arsenal ended up in the Europa League.

And Conte was left shocked by the way his side celebrated finishing fourth, claiming that "going to the Champions League was like winning the Premier League ". Reflecting on his time at Spurs, Conte told Sky Italia : "It was a difficult year at Tottenham.

"I arrived in November with them ninth in the standings and we ended up in the Champions League, overtaking Arsenal… For them, going to the Champions League was like winning the Premier League.

"On the last day, the Champions League entry was celebrated in the dressing room. I called my staff and told them: we don't get used to these celebrations.

"You don't celebrate these things. We are used to celebrating other things. OK, great feat, but at the same time, we understand what kind of celebration it is."

Conte was axed the following season after publicly criticising the club and questioning his squad's mentality following a 3-3 draw with Southampton where Spurs blew a 3-1 lead. "Why is it happening? Because they are used to it here, they are used to it," he fumed.

"They don't play for something important yeah. They don't want to play under pressure, they don't want to play under stress. It is easy in this way.

"Tottenham's story is this. 20 years there is the owner and they never won something but why The fault is only for the club, or for every manager that stay here. I have seen the managers that Tottenham had on the bench.

"You risk to disrupt the figure of the manager and to protect the other situation in every moment. Until now I try to hide the situation but now no because I repeat I don't want to see what I have seen today because this is unacceptable and also unacceptable for the fans.

"They follow us, pay the ticket and to see the team another time to have this type of performance is unacceptable. We have to think a lot about this."

Tottenham made the bold decision to sack Ange Postecoglou despite the Australian boss winning them the Europa League, but the 59-year-old is not expected to be short of offers amid interest from the Saudi Pro League

Former Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou is said to be "seriously considering" a move to the Saudi Pro League to coach Al-Ahli after his brutal sacking by Spurs earlier this month.

The Australian lost his job despite winning the Europa League for Tottenham, their first trophy in 17 years as he became only the third manager in their history to deliver a European trophy.

But he still came under huge pressure after the team finished in 17th place, their worst ever finish in the Premier League and the only side to lose 22 games without being relegated.

Spurs admitted it was "one of the toughest decisions we have had to make" as they insisted they couldn't be ruled by emotion in the wake of their cup success.

Postecoglou has since been replaced by Thomas Frank, who arrived from Brentford, and the ex-Celtic boss is now looking ahead to the next chapter in his career.

He has reportedly been approached by Saudi side Al-Ahli amid concerns that current boss Matthias Jaissle could leave the club after turning down a number of new contract offers. And according to the Sun, Postecoglou is attracted to the prospect of managing in the Middle East and is mulling over the Al-Ahli job should Jaissle depart.

The report goes on to say that the 59-year-old also has interest from England and in Europe. It adds that he would be open to another job in the Premier League if the opportunity presents itself.

If he does take over at Al-Ahli, Postecoglou would link up with England international Ivan Toney, as well as ex-Liverpool star Roberto Firmino, former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez and ex-Barcelona star Franck Kessie.

Al-Ahli have just won the AFC Champions League, so he could inherit a situation similar to Frank at Tottenham where is succeeding a successful manager.

Whatever Postecoglou's next move ends up being, he will be able to boast an impressive trophy record, having won silverware at almost every major team he's managed. He released a statement after his Spurs sacking, expressing his "pride" over his tenure and achievements.

"When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride," he said. "The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime.

"Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget. That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream."

He was outstanding for Brentford last season but a £70million valuation of Bryan Mbeumo seems a touch excessive. But it seems that is what Spurs are prepared to pay in order to secure his services.

As no-one knows Mbeumo better than Thomas Frank, perhaps the 25-year-old is worth that sort of money but, on the overall evidence of his six years in England, it seems a touch excessive. And it would seem unlikely that Manchester United would match or better that figure.

But they might not need to. Mbeumo might tell Brentford that he wants to go to Old Trafford, not Spurs. As unlikely as it seems, Mbeumo could well be a test case for United’s pulling power, which was once unrivalled and has not faded as much as some people might think.

On the face of it, there are many reasons why a move to Spurs is a very attractive proposition for Mbeumo. In no particular order …

*He will be playing in the Champions League.

*He will be playing for a manager he clearly likes and has a relatively long and happy relationship with.

*He will not have to leave London.

And on the face of it, there are many reasons why a move to United is not an unequivocally attractive proposition. In no particular order …

*He will be playing for a manager who might not be there that long.

*He will be playing for a team that finished five places and 14 points below Brentford last season.

*He will not be playing in any European competition, never mind the Champions League.

But there is one fundamental reason why Mbeumo might try and insist on going north. It is still Manchester United. And whenever United re-establish themselves as an elite force in the Premier League - which they will, sooner or later - it will be the biggest story in town.

That is a fact, like it or not. (And I get it that a lot of people don’t.) One of Jurgen Klopp’s mantras was about wanting players who would ‘push the train, not jump on the running train.’

It was a reference to players who relished the challenge of being key to the revitalisation of a team. From his decision to join United and from his comments when signing, Matheus Cunha seems that sort of character.

“I know it’s been a hard season for everyone,” said Cunha. “But I think my decision shows what this club is for me and what I believe this club can be. For me, no-one else is like United.”

And again, a lot of people will not like it, but you can see where Cunha is coming from. Listen, money will play a part. It always does.

United will probably be in a position to pay Mbeumo considerably more than he might earn at Tottenham Hotspur. And a cynic might think the prospect of more money and, with no European football, a lighter workload might be of considerable appeal to the modern footballer.

But for all the club’s tribulations, for all the club’s mediocrity on the field, Manchester United is still a huge draw for a player. And in the case of their pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo, Spurs might just be about to be reminded of that.

Ex-Spurs captain Hugo Lloris gives brutally honest verdict on Ange Postecoglou sacking

Ange Postecoglou has been relieved of his duties as Tottenham Hotspur manager despite leading the team to Europa League glory, with Thomas Frank taking his place

Hugo Lloris says a weight has been lifted off Tottenham’s shoulders after they ended their 17 year trophy drought. But Lloris also claimed that sacking Ange Postecoglou after his “remarkable” success was just a brutal reality of football.

Former Tottenham captain Lloris, 38, who spent 12 years at Spurs, is hoping lifting the Europa League will signal a change in the club’s fortunes. Los Angeles FC keeper Lloris, whose side face Chelsea in the Club World Cup, said: “I am really pleased.

"I am really happy for the club. For the people at the club, for the players. We ran for so many years after this trophy, finally the club got rewarded and it is well deserved.

“Hopefully it will make their shoulders a little bit lighter for the future and I think it is also the moment to build on this success for Spurs. Even if I am not a Spurs player, I still follow the news, the team and the results.

"I think Ange Postecoglou deserves a lot of credit, the players as well, it is not easy to win that kind of competition. It is also another way to get the Champions League.

“There was a lot of frustration and disappointment about the Premier League season but at the end, the last few years everybody was talking about trophies and finally they got one so that’s really good. I hope now they are going to build a momentum and get even more competitive in all the competitions they are involved in.”

Despite leading Tottenham to their first trophy since 2008, Postecoglou was given his marching orders and has now been replaced by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank. Even Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy admitted it was a tough decision to make the change but Spurs had lost 22 games in their Premier League season. However, Lloris was brutally honest about the failings of his teams during his time at the club and questioned whether they would have swapped finishing higher in the table for a trophy.

When asked whether the decision to sack Postecoglou surprised him, Lloris added: “No, nothing surprises me in football. But at the same time, it is hard to say something because I am on the other side. I don’t know what happened inside the club so it's really hard for me to judge.

“If they made this decision it is because they believe there is another option which is better for the future of the club. What Ange Postecoglou did was just remarkable. He brought this Europa League trophy, he brought a lot of joy to the Spurs community, a lot of pride as well and we all have to be thankful for that.

“I think they had a really hard season. They had a lot of injuries as well that affected the team and performances and I think in the second part of the season, it looks like they decided to go all-in for the Europa League.

“They made it and you just have to congratulate them because it is another way to go to the Champions League. At the end of the day, I don’t know, if you finish 10th, 14th, 15th, 16th and if you get a chance to win a trophy on the other hand, it is just an amazing achievement.

“I was part of a really competitive team for many years and the target was to reach the top four but at which price? We could not find a way to win a cup, a league cup or even a Europa League cup but we managed to go and get the top four for many years. I don’t know, it is all about the optics of the club.”

Tottenham are pursuing Bryan Mbeumo in a move that would reunite him with his former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, though the manager will already be pleased with two new players he gets to work with

Two Tottenham stars will know exactly where they stand with new Spurs boss Thomas Frank after the manager tried to sign them for Brentford. Spurs confirmed the appointment of Frank as their new head coach on Thursday.

The Dane joined as Ange Postecoglou's successor on a three-year deal after Daniel Levy triggered the £10million release clause in his contract. Frank had long impressed with his work in charge at the Gtech Community Stadium during a near seven-year period, with some of his assistant coaches now following him in the move to north London.

As he looks ahead to competing in the Champions League, Frank will be keen to quickly establish exactly who his key players are while signing new players of his choosing. And the 51-year-old will be pleased that he will now work alongside two players whom he almost signed for Brentford in recent years.

Frank and Brentford had a long-held interest in Brennan Johnson during his time with Nottingham Forest in the Championship. They had several bids rejected by Forest in the January window of 2022.

Brentford again pushed hard to sign Johnson in the summer of 2023, with Frank seeing the then 22-year-old as a pivotal part of his plans for the 2023/24 season after Ivan Toney was hit with an eight-month ban.

The west London side reportedly had a £40million bid rejected after falling short of Forest's £50m valuation. Spurs eventually won the race for Johnson, paying £47.5m to the east Midlands side before the summer transfer deadline.

The Lilywhites were once again able to get one over Frank’s Brentford last summer by signing Archie Gray from Championship side Leeds United. The versatile youngster was close to joining the Bees in a £40m move before the plug was pulled, as Leeds were unhappy with the structure of the deal Brentford were offering.

That led to Tottenham sweeping in and stealing Gray from under Frank's nose. The 19-year-old went on to feature heavily in the 2024/25 campaign, making 46 appearances in all competitions, with the majority of those games coming at centre-back.

Gray will be looking to kick on even more from August under Frank, who will now be the one in charge of his development - 12 months on from missing out on him.

Frank will also be keen to reunite with his star player, Bryan Mbeumo, from this season at Brentford, with Tottenham holding initial talks about a deal for the Cameroonian forward with their London rivals.

Mbeumo is one of the most sought-after Premier League players this summer transfer window after a stellar season at Brentford, in which he scored 20 top-flight goals while also contributing seven assists.

After enjoying his most prolific campaign to date under Frank, the 25-year-old has become more intrigued by a Spurs move now, having been linked with Manchester United in recent weeks.

Mbeumo arrived in west London from French side Troyes six years ago for a then-club record fee of £5.8m. Fast-forward to this transfer window and he's the subject of huge bids from both the Red Devils and Spurs.

United have had a bid of around £55m rejected by Brentford. And as reported already by Mirror Football, a first official step has been made towards reuniting Mbeumo and Frank, with Spurs technical director Johan Lange offering up £65m plus £5m in add-ons to land the Cameroon international.

However, Sky Sports reported that Mbeumo is still leaning towards United, who are expected to go back in with a fresh offer for the Brentford talisman.

Manchester United target Bryan Mbeumo is also wanted by Tottenham now that Thomas Frank is in charge and the Cameroon star feels his ex-Brentford boss will thrive at his new club

Bryan Mbeumo has tipped Thomas Frank to be a huge hit at Tottenham during an impromptu interview at the Canadian Grand Prix - but he did not discuss the battle for his signature between Spurs and Manchester United.

The Cameroon star, 25, is wanted by both clubs with a summer exit from Brentford now likely. It's understood that United is Mbeumo's preferred destination with the Red Devils in desperate need of reinforcements after enduring their worst ever Premier League campaign.

They have so far failed to meet Brentford's valuation of the player and the situation has been complicated by Frank's move to Spurs.

Mirror Football revealed prior to the weekend that they have launched a £70million bid to try and make Mbeumo their marquee summer signing by gazumping their rivals.

And while Mbeumo did not discuss interest from the two clubs in Montreal, he did endorse Frank to do a stellar job at his new club.

"He's done so much for me," Mbeumo told Sky Sports when he was asked how influential Frank has been during his career.

"He literally trusted me from the start [at Brentford] and he developed the team so well. He developed me as a human and a player so much as well. I can only wish him all the best and I'm sure he's going to do well."

He added: "He knows everything; he's really smart and knows what he wants to bring the team, how he wants them to play. He's been fantastic for Brentford."

Join the debate! Where do you think Mbeumo will be playing next season? Let us know here

Mbeumo is hot property after breaking the 20-goal barrier in the Premier League for the first time last season, helping Brentford to a 10th place finish.

Crucially, the Bees are not expected to prevent their star man after his stellar campaign, though it remains unclear where he will end up with the summer transfer window set to reopen on Monday.

The versatile forward feels he is currently at the peak of his powers, adding: "I think it's been my best season so far in the Premier League. Even collectively, I think we played very good and were unlucky [to not get] a European spot."