Manchester United have submitted a third bid for Bryan Mbeumo as Ineos look to end a long-running transfer saga.
The Bryan Mbeumo negotiations have lasted over a month, much to the frustration of Manchester United fans.
Ineos had two Mbeumo bids rejected early into negotiations, with the second worth £62.5 million. However, Brentford upped their asking price after seeing other activity in the transfer market.
Now, David Ornstein reports that United have submitted a third Mbeumo bid worth a total of £70m, matching the asking price that Brentford set for the 25-year-old.
Man United fans unhappy with Ineos for Bryan Mbeumo delays
Ruben Amorim wanted Mbeumo signed early this summer so that he could join up with the squad for the start of pre-season training.
Ineos initially decided to stand their ground and refuse Brentford’s demands, but United fans on social media are now questioning why it took so long to meet Mbeumo’s asking price.
In response to Ornstein’s post, one fan wrote: “So what was the point haggling over £5m when Ineos was going to pay Brentford what they wanted from the start. 7 weeks of negotiation for what lol
“Just wasted time! We could have easily moved on to other target if Utd had just got it done from the start”
Another fan put it bluntly: “Why did it take 7 weeks to do that?”
Others suggested that fingers need to be pointed in the boardroom: “We’ve spent 7 weeks negotiating to pay what Brentford originally wanted. Absolutely embarrassing. Sack Matt Hargreaves immediately”
Fans continued to make it clear they were unhappy with the time it has taken – “Spent 7 weeks to give them what they want,” one wrote.
“They finally woke up! But all this negotiation just to end up paying £70m is crazy,” read another post.
Finally, one fan added: “What a shambles, all that wasted time just to bid what they want anyway. If we were gonna pay it we could’ve made that bid a month ago and potentially got other signings in or made sales as well.”
Bryan Mbeumo can join Man United pre-season tour squad
After the disappointment of last season, Amorim felt it was urgent to act quickly in the summer to get players into his squad early.
United’s first pre-season friendly is against Leeds United on Saturday, and it seems a push that the deal will be finalised and completed in time for that match in Sweden.
After that, though, United will jet out to the United States for the 2025 pre-season tour, and the plan was always to have Mbeumo signed by then.
READ MORE: Ineos have faced identical Bryan Mbeumo situation and it ended with Man United striking £51m deal
If United’s third, and likely final, bid is accepted by Brentford then Mbeumo could join up with the rest of the squad for that tour.
Alternatively, if Brentford reject the bid then Ineos have little other option than to look elsewhere for attacking reinforcements having wasted seven weeks trying to land Mbeumo.
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