Newcastle United are reportedly keen on signing Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo in January.
The Cameroon international, 25, has established himself as one of the most exciting attackers in the Premier League in the last couple of years. He has scored a very impressive eight goals in nine Premier League appearances this season and his rollicking form for the Bees haven’t gone unnoticed, with Liverpool and Arsenal also understood to be keeping tabs.
According to a report from The Telegraph, Newcastle United are preparing a move for Bryan Mbeumo but manager Eddie Howe faces a stumbling block as the club’s January spending will be limited. The Toon Army had enquired about the Brentford star in the previous transfer window and their interest has not faded.
Wary of the growing interest, Brentford have slapped a £50m price tag on the in-form Mbeumo, who has now become the club’s main man following Ivan Toney’s departure to Saudi Arabia in the summer.
Bryan Mbeumo to Newcastle United—Should the Magpies go for him in January?
Newcastle United have endured a mixed start to the season. They missed out on a place in Europe last term and didn’t spend much in the summer transfer to bolster Eddie Howe’s squad. Key players such as Anthony Gordon, Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes were linked with exits from St. James’ Park.
Perhaps all that, coupled with injury problems, have led to Eddie Howe failing to bring consistency in performances and results. Nevertheless, the Magpies appear to have started putting plans in place for the January window with Howe at the helm.
Mbeumo has emerged as a potential target but Newcastle are facing a bleak financial situation. To improve their finances, they have to offload the fringe players and deadwood from the books. The Tyneside-based club did try to move on Miguel Almiron in the summer but were not successful. They have to try offloading the Paraguayan when the transfer window reopens in the New Year.
At 25, Mbeumo is in the perfect age bracket to succeed Almiron at Newcastle. With pace, power, physicality, creativity and flair in abundance, the French-born star would immediately lift the Magpies’ attack to the next level. His ability to operate on the flank and through the middle is a big plus, which will go a long way in bringing competition within Howe’s offensive department.
The left-footed flyer is a Premier League-proven commodity now and heading into the prime stages of his career, so he may think the time is right to leave Brentford and join a bigger club. A move to Newcastle would be a positive step but convincing the Bees to sell Mbeumo midway through the campaign will be an extremely difficult job.
All in all, if Newcastle can trim their wage bill by offloading some players and ease their financial situation, they must not hesitate to table a bid for Mbeumo.
