How Chelsea signing Joao Pedro has DOOMED Bryan Mbeumo to Man Utd

Chelsea signing Joao Pedro for €70 million has strengthened Brentford‘s belief that they are well within their rights to demand north of €80m from Man Utd for Bryan Mbeumo, according to a report.

The Red Devils remain in talks with the Bees over a deal for the Cameroon international, but an agreement is no closer to being struck than it was at the start of June when Man Utd tabled their first offer.

More bids have followed, but the Old Trafford club have still not managed to meet the Bees’ asking price for Mbeumo. Although he has made it clear that he wants to make the move to Manchester, Brentford won’t settle for anything less.

Despite reports of an imminent agreement and even a potential medical, The Transfers Podcast exclusively reported two weeks ago that there was still a significant gap between the two clubs, with Brentford asking for as much as €80 million as a guaranteed transfer fee.

Earlier this summer, Man Utd supposedly vowed that they won’t overpay for targets in a window of limited financial wiggle room, yet they continue to haggle over a fee for Mbeumo despite Brentford’s unequivocal and firm demands.

Brentford emboldened by Pedro move

According to the i Paper, recent developments in the market have only reinforced Brentford’s belief that they should not lower their Mbeumo price tag.

Joao Pedro has moved to Chelsea in a deal worth up to €70m, while Newcastle have agreed a €64m deal with Nottingham Forest for winger Anthony Elanga.

Brentford are convinced that Mbeumo is worth significantly more than both after scoring 38 goals over the past three Premier League seasons. The report adds that a deal is ‘not imminent’ and that no agreement is in sight.

This whole saga is worryingly reminiscent of last summer when Man Utd made several low-ball bids for top defensive target Jarrad Branthwaite, only to ultimately be forced to admit defeat and sign Matthijs de Ligt instead.

Unless Man Utd suddenly decide to cough up the money – money they may not even have – one can’t help but feel that they have wasted over a month on an exercise in futility.

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