Bryan Mbeumo: Premier League transfer options ranked as Arsenal and Newcastle eye Brentford ace

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo features heavily among the early January transfer rumours, with a string of big clubs linked to the Cameroon international winger.

Having moved to the Bees from Ligue 2 side Troyes for €6.5 million in 2019, Mbeumo has established himself as a leading figure at the Brentford Community Stadium and is in the midst of his best form to date under Thomas Frank.

Saddled with the expectation of replacing Ivan Toney, he has scored eight goals this season in the Premier League for a Brentford side that has gained a reputation for being quick starting.

Off the back of this, his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) is €44 million.

Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal have been particularly associated in transfer dispatches about the forward, with these Premier League giants seeking wide attacking reinforcements.

Surprisingly, though, data analytics experts believe there is only one club in England’s top flight that suits Mbeumo more Brentford.

Using the firm’s career advice tool, each Premier League side is given a Club Fit rating based on a variety of factors from potential development and game time to formation and playing style.

Mbeumo’s perfect transfer revealed

Aston Villa come out comprehensively on top as the best option for Mbeumo for the next step in his career.

Unai Emery’s side gets a Club Fit score of 81. The conditions at Villa Park seem almost ideal for the forward, with only the club’s playing style not maximising his conditions at the Bees.

Villa are the only club – Premier League or not – who get a score higher than Brentford’s 71. SciSports believes that the Bees cannot develop Mbeumo as much as the Midlands side, which is the big reason for the discrepancy in their score.

Completing the podium are West Ham, who just edge Everton out in this regard. Both have a Club Fit rating of 68. While Mbeumo’s playing time would be excellent at both, his development opportunities are slim and their formations do not maximise his qualities.

So what of the clubs who have been linked with him?

Arsenal come out with a Club Fit score of 64. While the development opportunities under Mikel Arteta are excellent, game time would be slim as he would be up against Bukayo Saka to play. Similarly, the playing style and formation of the club does not suit him, according to the analytics experts.

Liverpool, who have been linked with Mbeumo as a successor to Mohamed Salah, offer a very similar profile but only have a rating of 61.

Newcastle United, meanwhile, have a Club Fit of 58. The Geordies have little going for them from Mbeumo’s perspective as he can expect his playing time to be significantly curtailed while his opportunities to improve are not as significant as at other clubs.

Mbuemo’s optimal move is, therefore, to Aston Villa. Otherwise, he should think very seriously about staying at Brentford.