Manchester United are close to finalising a deal for Bryan Mbeumo worth more than £60m that would make the Brentford forward Ruben Amorim’s second major signing of the summer after Matheus Cunha.
The initial fee is understood to be agreed, with the clubs discussing add-ons that may take the overall deal close to Brentford’s £65m valuation.Brentford expect the transfer to go through, which would take United’s spending to about £125m after they paid Cunha’s £62.5m release clause to buy him from Wolves.
Brentford rate the 25-year-old Mbeumo in the same bracket as Cunha, who is a year older. The Brazilian is believed to earn a basic £150,000 a week, so Mbeumo’s salary would at least match this. Last season, the Cameroonian scored 20 league goals, with Cunha registering 15.
Amorim retains an interest in signing a No 9, and Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku is on the head coach’s radar. Nkunku joined Chelsea for £52m in summer 2023 and has scored 17 times in 58 appearances. The France international played as a No 10 for the whole of Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Espérance in their final Club World Cup group game.
