United’s $134m bid for star striker stumps Spurs; Arsenal’s wing crisis ends: Transfer Wrap

Manchester United have reportedly agreed to sign Cameroon winger Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a deal worth an initial £65 million ($134 million AUD) as Ruben Amorim steps up his overhaul of the team’s misfiring attack.

Mbeumo attracted Amorim’s attention with 20 goals in 38 Premier League games for Brentford last season.

Tottenham, now managed by former Brentford boss Thomas Frank, were also chasing the 25-year-old before United’s improved offer sealed the deal after their two previous bids were rebuffed.

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United will pay an additional £6 million in potential add-ons to Brentford. Mbeumo is due to undergo a medical in time to travel to the United States on Tuesday as Amorim’s men start their pre-season tour.

He is set to become United’s third signing since the end of last season, joining Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and teenage Paraguayan defender Diego Leon at Old Trafford.

Amorim has been determined to revamp United’s forward options after a woeful campaign.

They suffered a toothless 1-0 defeat against Tottenham in the Europa League final and a 15th-place finish in the top flight that ranked as their lowest since 1973-74.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee struggled as Amorim’s main strikers last term. Amorim has reportedly told Alejandro Garnacho to look for a new club, while Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho are expected to leave following their loan spells at Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.

Brentford's French-born Cameroonian striker #19 Bryan Mbeumo has reportedly agreed a move to Manchester United. Source: AFP

Mbeumo will be Amorim’s latest new recruit in his bid to revitalise moribund United.

Having already paid £62.5 ($129 million AUD) million for Cunha, United’s spending spree comes despite their failure to qualify for the Champions League costing the club a minimum of £70 million.

The versatile Mbeumo is able to operate in a variety of roles on the flanks or in central attacking areas.

His pace, creativity and clinical finishing should be a significant boost to United.

Mbeumo blossomed in six years at Brentford, scoring 70 goals and providing 51 assists in 242 appearances in all competitions following his move from French club Troyes in 2019.

He helped the Bees win promotion to the Premier League in 2021 and was instrumental in their impressive 10th-place finish in 2024-25.

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ARSENAL SECURE CROSS-TOWN WINGER

Arsenal sealed their controversial signing of Chelsea forward Noni Madueke in a deal worth a reported £48 million ($99 million AUD) on Friday.

Madueke agreed a five-year contract with the Gunners as he moved to the Emirates Stadium despite complaints from Arsenal fans.

The 23-year-old will provide competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks in Mikel Arteta’s side.

Madueke’s switch across London, which could eventually exceed £52 million with performance-related add-ons, has sparked stinging criticism from supporters who believe he is not worth the price tag.

A petition labelled ‘No to Madueke’ has attracted more than 5,000 signatures from Arsenal fans, while murals outside the Emirates were vandalised with ‘Arteta out’ slogans.

Madueke left Chelsea’s Club World Cup winning campaign in the United States last Friday to undergo his medical at Arsenal and put the finishing touches to the deal.

“Noni is an exciting and powerful young player, with his performances and numbers in recent seasons being of consistently high quality. He is one of the most talented wide forward players in the Premier League,” Arteta said.

“At just 23, Noni already brings experience of club and international football, and he knows the Premier League very well. Having seen the quality of Noni’s performances up close in recent seasons, we’re really excited he is joining us.

“Noni joins our group with familiar England teammates and other players he knows. He will be made to feel at home straight away. His arrival will really improve our squad. We’re all thrilled to have him here.” - ‘Great to go back home’ -

Madueke, who raised in north London added: “I’m really happy and really proud, so it’s a great moment for me. It’s great to go back home, be with my mum, my dad. I know my mum misses me in the house!

Noni Madueke has secured a move to Arsenal. Source: AFP

“It’s already a great team with a clear identity and I can’t wait to bring my style to the team and try and help the boys as much as possible to take that next step.

“I want to win all the competitions we’re in. I feel like we’re definitely capable of doing that.” Madueke scored 11 times for Chelsea in all competitions last season, taking his overall tally to 20 in 90 appearances in all competitions for the Blues.

He helped Chelsea qualify for the Champions League and win the UEFA Conference League last term, as well as making his first England appearances.

Madueke, who joined Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven for £30 million in 2023, is the latest close-season signing by Arsenal after the arrivals of midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard and goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga.

He takes Arsenal’s spending so far to around £120 million, with Valencia defender Cristhian Mosquera’s £13 million move expected to be finalised shortly.

Arsenal also remain hopeful of signing Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres. Madueke will join up with his new Arsenal teammates in early August after their pre-season tour of Singapore and Hong Kong.

LEEDS UNVEIL LONGSTAFF COUP

Newly-promoted Leeds have signed midfielder Sean Longstaff from Premier League rivals Newcastle, it was announced Friday.

No fee was disclosed but British media reports said the four-year deal was worth an initial £10 million ($13 million), rising to £12 million ($25 million AUD).

Longstaff, 27, in the final season of his Newcastle contract, has moved to Elland Road after being restricted to eight Premier League starts for his hometown club last term.

He made 171 top-flight appearances for the Magpies after coming through their academy, but fell behind Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali in the race for regular first-team football.

Longstaff is Leeds’ fifth pre-season signing following the arrivals of Lukas Nmecha, Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw and Gabriel Gudmundsson.

Leeds, promoted after winning last season’s second-tier Championship, are looking to re-establish themselves among the elite.

They were one of English football’s pre-eminent clubs of the late 1960s and early 1970s, as well as the last team to win the old First Division, the forerunner of the Premier League, in 1992.

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