“It’s Not in Man United’s Hands” — Fabrizio Romano Reveals Real Reason Behind Bryan Mbeumo Transfer Delay

Manchester United’s move for Bryan Mbeumo is still very much alive, but fans waiting for an official announcement may need to stay patient a little longer — and it’s not because of a lack of effort from Old Trafford.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has shed light on the reason behind the delay in securing the 25-year-old Brentford winger, saying the latest round of talks is being held up by factors beyond Manchester United’s control.

United are hoping to make Mbeumo their third summer signing following the arrivals of Matheus Cunha from Wolves and rising star Diego Leon. However, Brentford have already rejected two formal bids — the first for £55 million and a second that included £7.5 million in add-ons.

While many assumed United were dragging their feet, Fabrizio Romano has now clarified that Brentford are the ones holding things up. In his GiveMeSport newsletter, Romano wrote:

“United are still working on it, but the current delays are mostly on Brentford’s side. They’ve had a busy few days managing other player negotiations and squad plans.”

Romano revealed that Brentford are juggling multiple deals at once, including rejecting a fresh bid from Nottingham Forest for Yoane Wissa and finalising Christian Nørgaard’s move to Arsenal. The Bees are also preparing to announce the signing of former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, who has chosen not to extend his stay at Ajax.

These other negotiations have made it harder for Brentford to fully engage with Manchester United over Mbeumo’s future.

Despite the hold-up, Romano stressed that the deal is still “on,” and that United remain confident an agreement can be reached before they leave for their pre-season tour of the United States later this month.

It’s not just the fans who are feeling the frustration. Reports suggest Bryan Mbeumo himself is starting to grow impatient as talks continue to drag on. He is expected to return to Brentford’s training ground next week, and his presence in the UK could help speed things up.

The winger, who is seen as a key piece in Rúben Amorim’s new-look attack, is being lined up to play alongside Cunha and potentially Joshua Zirkzee in a dynamic front three. United are determined to sign Mbeumo before pre-season fixtures begin so that he can gel with the squad ahead of the Premier League’s opening weekend.

With Amorim keen to have his major attacking pieces in place early, Manchester United are preparing to make a third and likely final offer. Sources inside the club believe this bid will bring the two sides closer to agreement.

Fans will be hoping that Mbeumo’s return to England next week provides the spark needed to finally close the deal and bring one of the Premier League’s most underrated wingers to Old Trafford.