Brentford Open to Keeping £62.5m Man United Target

Bryan Mbeumo’s future at Brentford remains uncertain, but director of football Phil Giles has made clear the club is still having discussions with the player, despite two significant bids from Manchester United being pushed back.

United’s latest offer, believed to be worth as much as £62.5m, has been turned down. The Cameroonian forward, 25, is keen on the move and has reportedly made that intention known internally.

Giles, speaking with BBC Sport, admitted talks over a transfer haven’t advanced much. “He had a fantastic season,” he said. “We expected big interest in him, we have had big interest in him.

“He has his ideas about where he wants to take his career. He is well within his rights to do that.

“It is not impossible he is still a Brentford player next season if we agree he is going to stay.”

Giles stressed that any departure depends entirely on the terms. “If it’s not the right deal, why would we do it?” he said. “He is certainly one of our best players, if not our best player, and we need our best players. There’s no harm in keeping your best players.”

In a separate development, Brentford’s captain Christian Norgaard is nearing an exit to Arsenal, with both clubs finalising agreement on a fee expected to reach £15m with add-ons.

“We have been in conversations with Arsenal for the last week to 10 days,” Giles said. “As it stands it hasn’t been completed yet but it is heading in that direction.

“If that happens for him then fantastic, he’s earned it. He’s been a brilliant captain for us.

“Let’s see how that story ends but we are pretty open about that interest there.”