Man Utd 'refusing to be held to ransom' as Brentford increase price tag for 20-goal star Bryan Mbeumo

Brentford were knocked back in a bid to land an England prodigy

Life of Bryan Man Utd ‘refusing to be held to ransom’ as Brentford increase price tag for 20-goal star Bryan Mbeumo

MANCHESTER UNITED are refusing to budge on their valuation of Bryan Mbeumo after Brentford increased the asking price for the star, according to reports.

The Red Devils have been in prolonged negotiations with the Bees about the transfer of the Cameroon international.

5 Brentford have raised their asking price for Bryan Mbeumo closer to £70m Credit: Getty

5 But Man Utd chiefs are determined not to be held to ransom Credit: Alamy

5 There has only been one major new arrival at Old Trafford so far this summer Credit: Getty

They have seen two bids, the latest of which was worth £62.5m, rejected.

Despite Mbeumo, 26, making it clear that his desire is to move to Old Trafford this summer, Brentford have held firm on their valuation of the 20-goal talisman.

According to The Guardian, at the end of June Man Utd director of football, Jason Wilcox, believed a package of £65m would be enough to strike a deal.

But since then, Brentford have raised their price for the attacker - who reported for pre-season training this week - closer to £70m.

However, penny-pinching Man Utd are intent on not being pressured into paying over the odds and not being held to ransom.

The Brentford Community Stadium outfit view their position on Mbeumo as firm, as despite his contract expiring next summer they have an optional one-year extension clause.

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The London club know Man Utd are facing intense pressure to rebuild the squad from fans following the club's worst-ever Premier League campaign, which saw them finish 15th.

Thus far, the only major new arrival at Old Trafford is Wolves' Matheus Cunha for £62.5m, while minor arrivals have included teenagers Diego Leon and Enzo Kana-Biyik.

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Despite the latest spanner in the works, the Manchester Evening News report Red Devils chiefs remain hopeful of striking a deal for Mbeumo before the club jet off for their pre-season tour of the United States.

However, whether he is through the door or not by that point will not dictate whether he is signed at all this summer, with the report adding he may still join them at a later date on the 12-day tour.

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Ruben Amorim's side are back on the pitch at Carrington and travel to Stockholm for a friendly against Leeds on Saturday, before travelling to Chicago on Tuesday to take part in the Premier League Summer Series.

While across the pond they will take on West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton, before hosting Italian side Fiorentina at Old Trafford on August 9 for their final pre-season clash.

Man Utd then host Arsenal on the opening day of the Premier League at Old Trafford, while they will travel away to Brentford for a potential Mbeumo reunion at the end of September.

The Bees themselves have undergone a major change this summer with the loss of long-term manager Thomas Frank to Tottenham, with Keith Andrews being appointed in his place.

They have also been knocked back in an attempt to sign Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich following a shining performance at the Under-21 European Championships won by England.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal star has a £35m release clause in his contract with the relegated Tractor Boys.

Hutchinson, 21, would have been free to complete a switch if the terms of that clause were met by 5pm on Tuesday, but Brentford failed to meet the requirements due to spreading their bid out in instalments - with the deal needing cash up front.

Brentford's opening game sees them travel to Nottingham Forest before hosting Aston Villa the following weekend.

5 Meanwhile, Brentford have failed in an attempt to sign Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Credit: Getty

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