Manchester United Transfer Update: Mbeumo Deal Hits Roadblock as Pre-Season Begins
Manchester United’s preparations for the 2025/26 Premier League season are officially underway, with players reporting back to Carrington and new head coach Rúben Amorim now fully immersed in his mission to rebuild the squad.
However, as the countdown to their opening fixture against Arsenal at Old Trafford ticks down — now just over five weeks away — frustration is beginning to grow, particularly surrounding the stalled transfer of Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo.
Cunha Arrival Shows Ambition, But Momentum Has Slowed
United kicked off the summer transfer window with a bold move, securing Matheus Cunha from Wolverhampton Wanderers for a hefty £62.5 million. The Brazilian forward is expected to be a central figure in Amorim’s tactical setup.
His signing was meant to be a statement of intent — an early sign that the Red Devils were serious about strengthening their squad. But since then, progress in the transfer market has stalled.
Bryan Mbeumo Transfer Hits a Standstill
One of the main frustrations lies in the lack of progress over Bryan Mbeumo’s potential move to Old Trafford.
Manchester United made an initial bid of approximately £55 million for the Brentford forward, followed by a second offer exceeding £60 million. Yet, Brentford responded by raising their asking price, and no third offer has been submitted as of now.
While Mbeumo is reportedly eager to make the switch and has agreed on personal terms with United, the lack of agreement between the two clubs has prevented the deal from progressing.
For United fans, this is especially frustrating given the forward’s impressive form — Mbeumo scored 20 goals in the Premier League last season, outperforming every player in United’s current squad.
No Sales, No Further Signings
Another key reason behind the stalled activity is United’s inability to sell players. As it stands, no major permanent departures have been completed, a crucial step needed to meet financial regulations and enable further signings.
Players like Casemiro, Jadon Sancho, and Mason Greenwood are all available on the market, but none have been officially sold.
This lack of outgoings is directly impacting United’s ability to move forward with other key targets, including Joao Neves, Matthijs de Ligt, and Joshua Zirkzee — all of whom have been linked with the club.
Pre-Season Pressure Mounts
With pre-season fixtures set to begin shortly — starting with a match against Leeds in Stockholm, followed by the Premier League Summer Series in the United States — Amorim is eager to have most of his new signings in place before the team’s departure.
However, unless the club can quickly resolve the Mbeumo deal and finalize player sales, the pre-season tour could begin without the full-strength squad Amorim envisions.
In short, while Manchester United started the window strong, the momentum has slowed significantly, and unless deals are completed soon, the pressure on the board and Amorim will only grow as the new season approaches.
