Ben Foster explains why Bryan Mbeumo could reject Man Utd transfer

Metro

a day ago

Ben Foster has warned Manchester United that Bryan Mbeumo could turn them down in favour of a move to Tottenham if he has genuine ambitions of becoming a 'better footballer' and 'being a part of something'.
Mbeumo enjoyed an outstanding individual season with Brentford last term, notching 20 goals and seven assists to help the club to a tenth-placed finish in the Premier League.
But speculation is mounting that Mbeumo could be set for a big-money summer transfer away from the Gtech Community Stadium after six years with the Bees, as both United and Spurs – the two Europa League finalists – battle it out for his services.
United have held advanced talks with both Mbeumo's camp and Brentford over a proposed switch to Old Trafford – and the Cameroon international is reportedly keen to swap south London for Manchester.
The latest of the Red Devils' two bids for Mbeumo is understood to be worth in the region of £60m, with the forward in line to make in excess of £200,000-a-week at the Theatre of Dreams.
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However, United may not have it all their way this summer given Thomas Frank has told Daniel Levy he would like Mbeumo to come with him from Brentford if, as expected, he replaces Ange Postecoglou as Tottenham's new head coach.
'It's not exactly a rock and a hard place, is it?!' ex-United and England goalkeeper Foster said of Mbeumo's two potential options on Fozcast – The Ben Foster Podcast.
'It's like five-star and six-star [hotel]… am I going for a swimming pool in my room or having to just go to the top floor for the swimming pool? It's still pretty nice!
'If you want to be part of something that's going to make you probably a better footballer, work hard and be part of a team, then go to Spurs with Thomas Frank.'
Tottenham have a significant bargaining chip that United cannot offer this summer after beating the Red Devils in the Europa League final to secure Champions League qualification next season.
But Foster believes Mbeumo could still be tempted by the Red Devils should he base his decision on financial gain rather than purely footballing matters.
He added: 'If you are happy picking up your wages, knowing that there's going to be an awful lot more pressure, a lot more eyes on you, a lot more judgement… but with their record in the last couple of years, failure is kind of just part of what they do… then you'd just go to Manchester United.'
Discussions are expected to rumble on between Spurs and Frank over the coming days, with Brentford in line to make around £10m in compensation should the Dane depart.
According to Foster, Frank should be ready to be a far more subservient manager should he agree to work under Levy at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
'My big problem with Thomas Frank going to Spurs is nothing to do with Thomas Frank, it's Daniel Levy,' Foster warned the Brentford head coach.
'It works fantastically at Brentford with Thomas Frank. Same as it is at Brighton, whoever the manager is, it works fantastically.
'He is the manager of that football club. He runs it, he knows who is coming in and going out, they've got systems, back-up systems, players in the pipeline, the scouting system looks to be fantastic.
'But if you go to Spurs, you don't get a say in any of that. He doesn't get to do any of that, he doesn't get to control it. Daniel Levy is the guy that controls all of that.
'He will get very little say so he won't be the manager at Spurs that he is at Brentford.'
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