Image source, Getty Images

United scored a record low of 44 goals in 38 Premier League matches last season, therefore a new number nine at Old Trafford has been one of the big talking points this summer.

If they don't bring one in, what could happen?

Could existing strikers Rasmus Hojlund or Joshua Zirkzee benefit from having both Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo around them?

Or could one of the new arrivals, despite not being out-and-out strikers, be deployed up there?

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport

When I handed over to Joe before and said he may be the lucky charm to bring you transfer news I didn't expect it to be literally MINUTES later!

Looks like we're back to the good old filler content now, folks.

I'm going to have to milk this Mbeumo stuff for all its worth.

Lots of happy Man Utd fans right now and understandably so but what about you Brentford fans? How are you feeling about your current predicament?

Just joining us? Here's a recap of all this afternoon's top stories:

• Manchester United and Brentford have finally agreed a deal for striker Bryan Mbeumo. The fee is reported to be over £70m, with £65m guaranteed.

• Liverpool are looking to beat Newcastle to the signing of Hugo Ekitike from Eintracht Frankfurt, ahead of Newcastle. The Reds swooped into the deal after the Magpies were adamant that they wouldn't sell their star striker, Alexander Isak.

• West Ham have agreed personal terms with Kyle Walker-Peters. The 28-year-old left relegated side Southampton when his contract came to an end at the start of this summer, and was on the verge of signing for Turkish giants - Besiktas.
• Gossip - According to Fabrizio Romano, newly-promoted Sunderland have reached an agreement with Serie A team Sassuolo to sign French winger, Armand Lauriente.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker

It is interesting because we are sort of talking about Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo coming to Man United from Wolves and Brentford and, with respect, they are not signing either players from world-beating clubs.

Neither player is cheap at more than £60m either, but they are not world superstars either. They have looked at Mbeumo and they think he is going to perform the same way he has been for Brentford... I don't want to go down the numbers route and say he has been a 7/10 every week but that's what he was, at the very least, for Brentford if you look at what he has done for them last season.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport

Across the 2024/25 season, Bryan Mbeumo recorded career-best figures in the Premier League for virtually every attacking metric, including goals and assists, chances created and touches in the opposition box.

Additionally, the 22-cap Cameroon international was clinical: his shot conversion rate of 23.53% was better than the likes of Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak, while his work out of possession in key areas should also be noted. He won the ball back 32 times in the opposition third, ranking him third of all Premier League players.

But perhaps Mbuemo’s USP is his running threat with the ball at his feet. He was responsible for nine carries of more than five metres which directly ended in a goal being scored in 2024-25 – comfortably the most of any Premier League player last season.

Tom McCoy
BBC Sport journalist

Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo is a man in demand after 20 Premier League goals in 2024-25, the first time he has scored 10 times or more in a top-flight season. That was despite an expected goals total for the campaign of 12.3, meaning he outperformed his xG by 7.7, more than any other top-flight player.

Historically, that level of clinical finishing has rarely proved repeatable. In the past five Premier League seasons, just 14 players have overperformed their xG by at least five goals. The only player to do so more than once is Tottenham’s Son Heung-min, in 2020-21 and 2021-22.

That doesn’t make Mbeumo, who consistently ranks highly for chances created, any less of an asset to a new team. But it could mean clubs chasing him pay a bit of a premium for his signature and perhaps risks inflating expectations from supporters.

The Cameroon international, 25, has been linked with a move to Manchester United, who have already signed Matheus Cunha, another player who dramatically surpassed his xG last term.

The Brazilian’s 15 goals for Wolves came from an xG of 8.6, with only Mbeumo and Chris Wood (6.6) recording bigger differences in 2024-25.

Image source, Getty Images

Should Bryan Mbeumo's fee reach its max potential of £70m, it would slip the Cameroon international just outside the top five most expensive forwards in Premier League history.

The 25-year-old would be sixth behind Kai Havertz who went for £71m in 2021 and one of his new teammates, Rasmus Hojlund, who signed for £72m from Atalanta in the summer of 2023.

• Kai Havertz (Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea) £71m
• Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta to Man Utd) £72m
• Romelu Lukaku (Everton to Man Utd) £75m
• Darwin Nunez (Benfica to Liverpool) £85m
• Romelu Lukaku (Inter Milan to Chelsea) £97.5m

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

It was goals that United struggled with last season and the arrival of Bryan Mbeumo could certainly help that.

Between him and Matheus Cunha they scored 35 times in the Premier League last season, and can both be deployed on opposite sides of the pitch, with Cunha occupying the left ten position and Mbuemo on the right.

Both players hugely outperformed their xG last season, scoring around seven goals more than they were expected to, which suggests their ability to take on more difficult chances and create something out of nothing.

The missing piece of the puzzle as far as United's front three is concerned, is an out-and-out centre forward.

Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee have both missed the mark so far in their Old Trafford careers, and whilst Ruben Amorim is believed to be looking at other attacking options, United's finances could mean persistence is the key.

Another option is to use the versatility of Cunha and play him as a central striker, freeing up a spot for Amad Diallo in United's attack.

Image source, Opta

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker

Mbeumo joined Brentford when they were still in the Championship and the fact he has come into the Premier League and been a consistent goalscorer and performer is the reason United want him.

Consistency in those forward positions is what United are striving for, because they have not had it with, say, Alejandro Garnacho or Antony.

They are maybe thinking an older, more experienced, player, who is more reliable, is what they need. That's Mbeumo - he fits into Ruben Amorim's system, and he fits the bill as proven Premier League quality too.

Image source, Getty Images

Bryan Mbeumo recorded career-best figures in the Premier League last season for virtually every attacking metric, including goals and assists, chances created and touches in the opposition box.

With a shot conversion rate of 23.53%, only Mohamed Salah and Alexander Isak were more clinical in front of goal.

His work out of possession in key areas should also be noted. He won the ball back 32 times in the opposition third, ranking him third out of all Premier League players.

But perhaps Mbeumo's unique selling point is his running threat with the ball at his feet. He was responsible for nine carries of more than five metres which directly ended in a goal being scored in 2024-25 - comfortably the most of any Premier League player last season.

Chris Sutton
Former Premier League striker

Bryan Mbeumo has done well at Brentford but playing for Manchester United is very different. With respect to Brentford, there is no great expectation there. At United, he will be expected to perform straightaway.

He has experience, he is a good finisher, and his versatility is a big positive - he can play as a central striker as well as on the wing, cutting inside off the right on to his left foot.

But he has had one very good season where his numbers were very good, so the question is whether he can repeat that.