Man Utd have now agreed deal to sign “unplayable” star

Manchester United’s summer transfer window is surely about to gather pace.

The £62.5m deal for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Matheus Cunha was finalised at the start of June, and it’s the kind of signing which could reinvent the Red Devils’ frontline.

However, Ruben Amorim needs more firepower, and thus far has been frustrated by the lack of progress over the past month, with any number of additions still needed and a host of exiled first-teamers – like Marcus Rashford, Antony and Jadon Sancho – yet to be sold.

Man Utd’s search for forwards

Going into the summer transfer window, it was Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres at the top of Man United’s shopping list, the Sweden striker having previously played so well under Amorim’s wing.

However, the 27-year-old is on the brink of a transfer to Arsenal, with Rasmus Hojlund’s desire to remain at the Theatre of Dreams complicating the pursuit of a new frontman.

But INEOS are still pushing to sign attacking additions.

As per Spanish sources, Man United have reached an agreement with Brentford for the transfer of Bryan Mbeumo. The deal, worth roughly £65m, is on the cusp of finalisation, with the minutiae all that’s left to be ironed out.

This follows Fabrizio Romano’s update from last week, and it’s starting to look likely that the Red Devils are going to receive a momentous boost in the coming days.

Brentford had previously rejected a number of offers from United but their persistence has finally paid off.

Why Bryan Mbeumo is perfect for Man Utd

Mbeumo’s 2024/25 campaign with Brentford underscored his calibre as one of the Premier League’s most dangerous forwards, posting 20 goals and eight assists across 38 matches.

Only Mohamed Salah, Alexander Isak and Erling Haaland scored more.

Amorim struggled to establish offensive fluency at United last season, and you can see why Mbeumo would be such an impactful signing. As per Sofascore, the Cameroonian, 25, complemented his direct return with an average of 1.8 key passes, 1.4 dribbles and 4.7 successful duels per game.

But it’s his goalscoring record that the Old Trafford side covet most. Indeed, Thomas Frank said after the player’s hat-trick over Newcastle United last term that he is “unplayable” when at his finest.

Mbeumo’s style of play, and what he would offer in the final third without even considering the focal frontman, could see him become Amorim’s own version of the ostracised Rashford, one better aligned to the manager’s tactics and vision.

As you will see below, Rashford has provided a clinical presence for United across a number of seasons in the Premier League. Indeed, journalist Mazola Molefe actually named him a “goal machine” only two years ago.

But he’s also ebbed away from his topmost level, whereas Mbeumo is starting to come into his own, and has proved across the past year that he’s one of the most prolific wide forwards across the continent.

It’s clear that Rashford’s days at Old Trafford are numbered, with Amorim not a fan and Barcelona looking likely to act on their interest and snap him up in the coming weeks.

Curiously, Mbeumo’s 20-goal return in 2024/25 surpassed anything that Rashford has ever produced on a single-term basis for United. Thus, it’s clear that Amorim could not only sign a new version of the Three Lions star but a superior player.

Ultimately, Amorim and Jason WIlcox and co all know that Mbeumo alone won’t fix United’s problems, even when considering the flanking partnership to be forged with Cunha.

But by replacing Rashford with a new prolific force such as he, it’s a step in the right direction, for sure.