Brentford

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...

Passing in football has become an obsession.

The tiki-taka style of Barcelona has now become the basis of managerial philosophies across the leagues and lands of Europe and beyond.

The problem is, few teams have the ability to execute it at the level required to make it effective.

Pep Guardiola took it to another level when he was in charge of the La Liga giants and it has served his Manchester City side well since he took charge in 2016 having won 18 trophies in the following nine years.

And, if the Premier League season had come down to how well teams pass the ball, unsurprisingly the eight-time champions would have been celebrating a ninth title.

With nearly 90% accuracy, they rarely put a foot - or pass - wrong.

And yet, in reality, it did not translate to success on the pitch this year.

Whether it was teams finally finding the chinks in the passing-machine armour or the side's misplaced passes proving more costly than in previous seasons without key players, City could not take advantage of their dominance with the ball.

And for one of the most acute examples of ability with the ball not translating to on-the-pitch success, we only have to look at Southampton.

The Saints at one point looked set to break Derby County's record for the least amount of points in a Premier League campaign, and yet they were less than 1% behind actual league champions Liverpool when it came to passing accuracy.

While fans could have some appreciation for watching nice football, they might have appreciated some scrappy displays that resulted in hard-fought results and possible safety more.

In contrast, Crystal Palace had the least accurate passing of any team in the league.

And yet, Oliver Glasner's side ultimately finished 12th - just three points off a top-half finish - and won the FA Cup final against the club with the best passing ability of them all.

They are not the only team to have had successful seasons in their own right while being in the bottom six for passing accuracy.

Nottingham Forest were 19th in this table metric, but in reality were fighting for Champions League places.

Bournemouth and Brentford also battled for possible European spots into the final weeks of the season, and even Everton finished the campaign comfortably away from relegation that at one point they looked set to be in a battle to escape.

So what does this tell us? When it comes to winning football matches, passing the ball well is not the be-all and end-all.

*Table data from Opta

Brentford have rejected Manchester United's first bid for Bryan Mbeumo and want more than £60m for the forward. (Independent, external)

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United are in talks to sign Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo after submitting a bid of £45m and £10m in add-ons.

Despite that opening bid no agreement has been reached between the two clubs.

United are confident they can complete a deal to sign Cameroon international Mbeumo, 25, who scored 20 times for the Bees in the league last season, after receiving indications they are his first choice for a move this summer.

It is understood there is no release clause in Mbeumo's contract, which still has a year left to run, although there is the option to extend it by another year.

Wolves forward Matheus Cunha has already agreed a deal with United and will complete his move to Old Trafford once his international commitments with Brazil are over.

Brentford will look to appoint Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna if current manager Thomas Frank leaves to replace Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham. (Football Insider, external)

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New Brentford arrival Caoimhin Kelleher has spoken about the importance of the "impressive" vision pitched to him by the club's hierarchy in helping him decide to join.

The 26-year-old met head coach Thomas Frank, sporting director Phil Giles, and chief executive Jon Varney, among others, and was pleased with the plan they had in place for him.

"I just really like the whole club," Kelleher said in his first interview with the Bees' club media.

"I like the way the manager, the staff, go about their ways. It seems like a really close, tight-knit, family club and they have a really good track record of developing players and improving players, which has really drawn me to the club.

"Last week, I went down to meet the manager, some of the coaches, sporting director and CEO and they spoke to me about why they wanted to sign me and showed me around the training ground. I was pretty happy with that and was excited to join once I met them.

"It was really positive. It was interesting to see their point of view, hear why they want to sign me and what they think they can do with me to develop my game. It was impressive. I think the club is a really good fit for me.

As a first message to Brentford fans, he added: "I'm delighted to be here, I can't wait to get started, and I think they're getting a really good goalkeeper."

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher from Liverpool on a five-year contract with a club option for a further 12 months.

It follows the news that Mark Flekken - first-choice goalkeeper for the past two seasons - has returned to the Bundesliga to join Bayer Leverkusen.

Kelleher departs Liverpool having made 67 appearances across all competitions, keeping 24 clean sheets, and winning seven trophies including two Premier League titles.

"When Mark Flekken had the opportunity to move to Bayer Leverkusen, we immediately thought about Caoimhin as his replacement," said director of football Phil Giles.

"As well as being a very good goalkeeper, I've rarely met a player for whom everybody has such positive words to say about his personality and character. I'm therefore confident he'll be an excellent addition to the squad."

First-team goalkeeper coach Manu Sotelo added: "He is calm and obsessed with improving. His best quality is his agility and he is a clever goalkeeper, with positioning and awareness being key elements of his game."

Despite his success at Anfield, Kelleher has always been second choice to Alisson and saw his chances of becoming number one further limited by the arrival of Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia this summer.

The 26-year-old sees the move to west London as his chance to play every week.

"I don't think it was very difficult for me to leave [Liverpool]," Kelleher said.

"I felt, for my own career, that the time was right for me to go, to be a number one and to play every week.

"I heard of some interest a number of weeks ago. Once I knew Brentford was in for me, it was definitely one I was really excited about and wanted to do as quickly as possible."

Image source, Getty Images

Mark Flekken "became one of the best goalkeepers in the league" despite "a tough beginning", says Brentford's goalkeeper coach Manu Sotelo.

Flekken, who made 77 appearances for the Bees after joining from Freiburg in May 2023, has now returned to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen for about £8m.

"Mark was a great number one for us on and off the pitch," said Sotelo. "Despite a tough beginning, he ended up being a really important player.

"Offensively, he helped us to play from the back on another level, but not just playing short as he got three assists in two seasons.

"Defensively, he became a really solid goalkeeper after an uncomfortable transition after changing countries. The Premier League is ruthless, but he became one of the best goalkeepers in the league.

"He was relentless in training and leading our young goalkeepers. His impact here was massive and we wish him all the best for the future."

Ian Westbrook
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

After another positive season for Brentford, I don't expect - or want - to see much change this summer.

However, that depends on what bids come in for our players.

Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa will inevitably attract interest, and I've said here before that Mbeumo will probably be sold. He has played a massive part in our rise and is irreplaceable.

Wissa is an interesting one, though. Every Bees player has his price, and if a bid comes in at a suitable level, the club would discuss a sale. He has had the best season of his career and is 29 in September, so, given our working model, Brentford could decide we should cash in while he is at maximum value.

However, Wissa's importance is not just his goals but also his personality. His infectious on-pitch smile and character, for example, in pushing newer players forward to receive post-match applause from us fans, is invaluable, and he would also be a huge loss.

I have always thought we wouldn't let both players go in the same transfer window, but the club may feel it is right. I'd love to see them both get new contracts, though!

If Wissa does leave and Igor Thiago becomes the main striker, then I think we would revert to playing two up front, as when we had Ivan Toney. Thiago appears to be a target man like Toney, so we may adjust our style to suit him.

I don't see any other key players going - with the likes of Mikkel Damsgaard, Keane Lewis-Potter and Nathan Collins all on long contracts.

We are well covered in all positions - and making Michael Kayode's loan move permanent further strengthened us - and with a good mix of youth and experience in the squad, I don't think we need many other new faces.

While Thomas Frank may interest other clubs, I believe - and hope - he will stay with us.

Find more from Ian Westbrook at Beesotted podcast, external

Nicola Pearson
BBC Sport journalist

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...

Football games are 90 minutes long. They have been for more than 150 years.

So, what if they weren't? What if only the first 45 minutes mattered?

Some teams like to lead from the front, come out the blocks flying and try and get the job done before half-time.

If that had been the case this season and it all came down to that first half showing, then it would not have been Liverpool lifting the trophy, but in fact Arsenal winning their first league title in over 20 years.

With 20 wins, 13 draws and five defeats, the Gunners were the kings of the first half.

Four points behind them were Manchester City - a team that has for so long been able to control games from start to finish, but during their difficult spell with injuries and results, this was something they seemed to lack.

If the league really came down to this metric, Brentford fans would be planning for a Champions League adventure. While the Bees were fast starters this campaign, being able to back that up across the 90 minutes was their Achilles heel (ranking 14th in the second half).

And what about this year's Premier League champions? Arsenal may have had the number when it came to first halves, but Liverpool well and truly led the way in the second...

What if the season was all about the second 45 minutes?

While some prefer to get their nose in front, others prefer a half-time reset or back themselves to get the job done later in the game.

One of those teams was Arne Slot's Reds.

They won 24 of their 38 second-halves, drew nine and lost just five. If it was this 45 minutes alone that counted, they would have had 81 points and - just like in the actual season - been runaway winners.

Another club that enjoyed success after half time was Chelsea.

Ranking seventh in the first-half table, the Blues were often in a position where they needed to turn things around or dig out a result in the second 45 and, despite the young age of the team, managed 17 wins in second halves.

A side deserving an honourable mention here is Crystal Palace.

They may have finished 12th in the 2024-25 league table after a underwhelming start, but when it came to getting a result in the second half, with 16 wins,12 draws and 10 defeats, they were up there alongside some of the best in the league.

*Table data from Football365

Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo wants to join Manchester United, who are now set to open talks to sign the 25-year-old Cameroon international. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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BBC Sport pundit Nedum Onuoha has given us his insight and opinion every fortnight on your Premier League club throughout this season.

But this week, he's in the hotseat for your questions.

Maybe ask him who should be on your club's radar this summer, or where a rumoured target or new signing might fit into the team.

Perhaps see what he thinks about how successful a new recruit might be, who it is vital to keep, or what is needed to make next season a success.

Send in your questions here and we'll put a selection to him

Image source, Getty Images

With Caoimhin Kelleher set to move to Brentford from Liverpool and the Bees' number-one goalkeeper Mark Flekken heading to Bayer Leverkusen, we asked for your views on the deals.

Here are some of your comments:

Lance: We have a decent track record of getting the best out of our goalkeepers, and Kelleher already has an impressive foundation to start with. He deserves a chance at being number one, especially after some impressive performances for Liverpool. To lose Flekken for less than most fans would like, but replace him with someone like Kelleher, is a great move by the club.

Jonathan: Good business for all parties. Kelleher deservedly gets a team that wants him as first choice, Brentford get an excellent keeper for only £4m up front when Flekken's fee is offset on the balance sheet - and I assume he's happy going to Leverkusen - and Liverpool will still have two top goalkeepers.

George: What a signature for us to secure. We need a shotstopper to replace Flekken's big gloves, as our end-to-end style relies on tolerating a lot of shots from outside the box. He is young, eager and Premier League proven. Best of luck to both keepers this season!

Matt: I've long admired Kelleher and getting a relatively young yet experienced goalkeeper for the price rumoured is great business. Flekken has been fantastic this season and last so it is not surprising a 'bigger' club has come looking.

Adam: Kelleher is a great replacement. Granted Flekken has been amazing for us this season, but Kelleher is younger and has experience in finals and big matches. Hopefully he can help us push towards another top-half finish.

Brian: Great news. Kelleher is a much better goalkeeper - and younger - and he will really enjoy our defence.

Image source, Getty Images

Brentford have signed Romelle Donovan from Birmingham City on a five-year-deal.

The 18-year-old attacking midfielder joined Brentford B on loan in February, scoring 11 goals and providing 10 assists in 15 games.

Donovan will now join Thomas Frank's first-team squad after impressing.

Bees director of football Phil Giles said: "When Romelle arrived on loan in January, we knew he was a talented player with potential, but it's fair to say that in his time with us he's exceeded our expectations.

"His performances for the B team have been outstanding and he has shown himself to have a desire to work hard in training. He has earned his place in our first-team squad for next season.

"He will need to continue to work hard, on and off the pitch, to continue his progression with us towards first-team matches."

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel has been answering your questions on the summer transfer window.

Rob asked: How on earth are Brentford getting Kelleher from Liverpool for only £18m? That might be the bargain of the whole transfer window already.

Sami answered: It may well be the bargain of the summer, Rob. He is clearly a talented goalkeeper. But consider this: Kelleher is 26 and has only made 25 Premier League starts. That isn't a vast body of work to consider. Liverpool know that. Brentford will have used that to drive the price down. There is also no telling how Kelleher will adapt to becoming a Premier League club's first choice keeper because he has never been in the position before. Add to that that Kelleher's contract at Anfield expires next summer when he can leave for nothing and the anticipated arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who will compete with Allison Becker to be first-choice, Kelleher's days at Liverpool were numbered. In many ways, Liverpool have done well to get £18m!

Steve Sutcliffe
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Bournemouth have the lowest matchday revenue in the Premier League, with a 11,379 capacity at the Vitality Stadium.

Yet they have recruited shrewdly and the big-money sales of Dominic Solanke and Dean Huijsen during 2024-25 means they could easily part with £100m to bring in new signings.

Brentford are among the best run businesses in the league and their approach of "spotting players that other clubs have not considered, such as Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa, is likely to pay further dividends as they are attracting attention from clubs with big budgets", said football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

"The Bees have no PSR concerns and could spend up to £200m, but are unlikely to break the bank for the sake of it as this is not the way that owner Matthew Benham conducts affairs at the club."

Meanwhile, another club on the south coast, Brighton, are also in rude health heading into the next transfer window.

The Seagulls have earned £200m in profit over the previous two seasons and could repeat last summer's heavy spend of more than £200m if necessary.

However, chief executive Paul Barber has already indicated they will more likely return to their tried and tested model of bringing in relatively unheard of players from unfamiliar markets.

Brighton's biggest challenge is more likely to be keeping hold of the likes of Joao Pedro, Carlos Baleba and Kaoru Mitoma, who are all attracting admiring glances from clubs with bigger budgets.

Read more about the early transfer window and what each Premier League club can spend this summer

As the dust settles on the 2024-25 Premier League season, we have been taking a look at some of the alternative ways the the table could have finished...

Many of us will have been there in school.

It was not always about being the best, but about being better. Not trying to beat the others' scores or times, but about beating your own.

In sport too, it is why personal bests exist. It is a way of measuring your own improvement against what has gone before - we can't all be Usain Bolt and Florence Griffith-Joyner.

So if the Premier League season was all about how you compared to the campaign before, who would have come out on top?

Well, there is one clear winner.

With 29 points more than they had in 2023-24, Nottingham Forest would have been lifting that trophy.

They may not have finished the season quite as they hoped having spent so much time in the Champions League spots, but having narrowly avoided relegation a year ago, this shows the sheer scale of the improvement this term.

Their nearest challenger on this basis would have been Brentford.

With 56 points, they were three points short of their best ever Premier League tally, but having flirted with relegation last time out, it made for a more enjoyable season this time around.

Brighton, Bournemouth and Fulham may have just missed out on European adventures in the real league, but they are also teams who can be happy with the improvements they are showing as now well-established top-flight sides.

And despite the chaotic nature of Chelsea since the new ownership came in, they too can look to steady progress.

At the other end of the scale (or table), it is a very different picture.

Many question whether the traditional 'big six' teams is still relevant, given how others have broken that mould in recent years.

But if the season was based on improvement, four of those six would have been at the bottom.

Tottenham dropped-off in the league nearly as much as Forest improved. Manchester City had a high bar to reach, but a torrid spell proved costly. Manchester United have set multiple unwanted club records, while Arsenal struggled to maintain a real challenge for the title.

They say beware the wounded tiger, and it is hard to see all these sides having the same difficulties next season, but they will not have it all their own way with those teams that are on the up.

*All data from Opta and only teams who were in the league in 2023-24

Image source, Getty Images

As the early summer transfer window opens, there looks to be movement in the goalkeeping department for Brentford.

With Bayer Leverkusen understood to have agreed a fee of around £8m for 31-year-old Mark Flekken, the Bees are set to sign Liverpool's number two goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher.

The clubs have agreed a £12.5m fee for the 26-year-old Republic of Ireland international, rising to £18m in add-ons.

So, what do you make of the deal? Would Kelleher be a good replacement for Flekken? What can he bring to the side?

Let us know

Bayer Leverkusen have agreed a fee worth 10m euros (£8.43m) to sign 31-year-old Netherlands goalkeeper Mark Flekken from Brentford. (Sky Germany), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

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We asked for you to tell us what you want Brentford need to do in the summer transfer window.

Here are some of your comments:

Jake: The ideal window will be to try to keep Mbeumo and Wissa at all costs, but we've got the depth for squad players to step up and seek a replacement. A couple of full-backs and a centre-back are a must. Lewis-Potter has done a job this season, but his future will surely lie as a forward.

Roger: If we lose Mbeumo, Sunderland have an amazing player called Mayenda.

Vin: If we lose Mbeumo but hold on to Wissa and our other attackers we'll be fine up front. With Henry and Hickey returning, our defence looks good. More creativity in midfield is where I see us needing to strengthen.

Kev: Don't sell Flekken, Mbeumo, Wissa or Schade. Buy an extra decent midfielder and some more centre-back cover.

Richard: Get a new goalkeeper and a midfielder that make the team better when there are inuries and players out. Then next season we could potentially get Europe, which would be amazing for this club.

Thank you for the feedback you submitted on the Premier League club pages.

Our aim is to contain all of the BBC's in-depth coverage of that team in one place, so it helpful to hear from you - you are who the pages are for after all.

We are going through all your responses and will take suggestions on board for next season.