How Manchester United signed Bryan Mbeumo: Low-ball offer to top-end price - and why it took so long

Manchester United's summer transfer sagas are often as captivating as their matches, and the pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford was no exception. What began with a cautious, almost exploratory low-ball offer evolved into a protracted negotiation that ultimately saw the Old Trafford hierarchy sanction a top-end price for the Cameroonian forward. This wasn't merely a testament to Brentford's resolute negotiating stance, but a stark indicator of United's deep-seated belief that Mbeumo possesses the unique blend of attributes desperately needed to ignite their attack and provide a reliable goal threat from the right flank. The initial approach, reportedly in the region of £35 million, was met with an immediate and unequivocal rejection by the Bees, who valued their talisman significantly higher.