Manchester United have finally sealed the £65 million signing of 25-year-old Cameroon international Bryan Mbuemo from fellow Premier League outfit Brentford after their third offer to the West Londoners was accepted on July 21. The signing, which could rise to a total £71 million should various add-ons be accomplished, is the Red Devils’ third acquisition of the summer following moves for Brazilian forward Matheus Cunha, Paraguayan left-back Diego Leon, and the impending arrival of Benjamin Šeško.
Mbuemo enjoyed the best season of his career to date last season, scoring 20 Premier League goals and providing eight assists as he featured in every one of the Brentford’s Premier League fixtures. Let’s explore how the versatile attacker can impact Ruben Amorim’s side.
What Former Brentford Star Mbuemo Will Bring to Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United
Goal Threat
First and foremost, the Red Devils are in dire need of attacking impetus after a disastrous 15th-place finish that yielded a paltry 44 goals in 38 Premier League games. The Cameroon International scored nearly half of that total alone in his last campaign in West London, netting 20 times and providing eight assists in the best goalscoring season to date, a significant upgrade on even the best outputs at Old Trafford, with Captain Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo netting just eight goals apiece to finish as the Red Devils top Premier League goalscorers. This extra goal threat, alongside the expected arrival of Šeško, could transform the team’s attack.
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Versatility
Although predominantly a modern inverted winger cutting inside onto his stronger left foot from the right wing, Mbuemo is capable of performing a variety of roles across the forward line such as a number 10 and also an out and out striker, allowing for maximum fluidity in Amorim’s system and the capacity to interchange with United’s other versatile forwards in Cunha, Joshua Zirkzee, Amad and Šeško.
Attitude
Mbuemo has conducted himself with admirable professionalism this summer. Never agitating for a move from Brentford whilst still making it clear that his preference would be a transfer to the 13-time Premier League champions. Professional until the end, the French-born star reported for pre-season training with the Bees and patiently waited for negotiations to conclude between the two parties before finally sealing his dream move to the Red Devils, an attitude that many in Amorim’s current squad and others in the recent past would do well to learn from.
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Mbuemo’s arrival heralds a welcome addition, and continues the change in tack from previous regimes at Old Trafford, with the hierarchy under Sir Jim Ratcliffe doing extensive due diligence on players and, based on this summer’s business, have observed the need for proven Premier League experience as well as the enthusiasm of youth. If there is any caution to exercise, it should be noted that last season was the Cameroonian’s first convincing goalscoring campaign, massively outperforming his Premier League xG (13.63). Should he be able to maintain his predatory instincts, Manchester United could find the £65M fee to be quite the bargain.
