Manchester United are pushing to complete the signing of Bryan Mbeumo before their pre-season tour to the United States, with a third bid of £70 million submitted to Brentford. The offer, comprising £65 million plus £5 million in add-ons, is considered a take-it-or-leave-it proposal after negotiations stalled. United are eager to have the forward on the plane when the squad departs on Tuesday.
Manager Ruben Amorim will oversee a squad that currently includes only one summer signing, Matheus Cunha, who joined from Wolves for £62.5 million. Diego Leon, an 18-year-old Paraguayan left-back signed in January, is also training with the first team but faces competition from Patrick Dorgu, Luke Shaw and Harry Amass. A decision on whether he joins the tour or drops to the under-21s is pending.
Four academy graduates are vying for places on the US trip: Bendito Mantato, Shea Lacey, Sekou Kone and Elyh Harrison. Harrison, a 19-year-old goalkeeper, has a strong chance given Andre Onana’s injury recovery. The others are in limbo, with loan moves being discussed for the 2025/26 season. Amorim is yet to finalise his selections.
Several young players, including Dan Gore, Ethan Wheatley, Tyler Fredricson and Toby Collyer, could leave the club in the coming weeks, either on loan or permanently, as United aim to clear a pathway from academy to first team. The pre-season schedule begins with a friendly against Leeds in Stockholm on Saturday, followed by matches in the US against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton as part of the Premier League Summer Series. United will then face Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9 before opening their Premier League campaign against Arsenal on August 17.
