Bryan Mbeumo is set to go on Manchester United’s pre-season tour of the US next week after Brentford finally accepted an offer worth a total of £71million for the Cameroon forward.
The longest-running transfer saga of the summer so far came to an end on Friday when United agreed to pay £65m plus £6m add-ons for Mbeumo in four instalments.
Having failed with two bids totalling £55m and £62.5m last month, United made a third attempt on Thursday when they raised their offer to £70m. The final agreement includes an extra £1m in add-ons.
The breakthrough came too late for Mbeumo to have a medical in time to make his United debut in today’s (sat) opening pre-season friendly against Leeds in Stockholm, but the 25-year-old is expected to be named in the travelling squad when Ruben Amorim and his players fly to Chicago next week to face West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton in the Premier League Summer Series.
Amorim will now turn his attention to signing a new centre-forward, but United may have to offload players before they can buy again.
United face Premier League rivals Leeds United on Saturday in Stockholm at the Strawberry Arena, with the squad flying out to Sweden on Friday afternoon ahead of the clash.
New signings Matheus Cunha and Diego Leon have both been included in the group and could make their unofficial debuts against Daniel Farke’s side.
Several youth players such as Patrick Chinazaekpere, Tyler Fredricson, Reece Munro, Godwill Kukonki, Jack Fletcher, Sekou Kone, Ethan Williams and Bendito Mantato have also been included in the squad.
However, first choice goalkeeper Andre Onana is not on the plane to Sweden after suffering a hamstring injury on the second day of pre-season training last week.
Joshua Zirkzee has also remained at Carrington with a ‘minor issue’, but he and Onana are expected to join the squad for the upcoming tour of the United States next week, according to the club.
Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia – who have all been training separately from the first-team squad at Carrington – are available and United would listen to offers for Rasmus Hojlund.
