Man Utd Targets Mbeumo While Eyeing Two Backup Strikers in Transfer Hunt

Manchester United are reportedly unwilling to pay an excessive amount for Brentford striker Bryan Mbeumo and have apparently identified Premier League stars Antoine Semenyo and Eberechi Eze as more affordable options.

Ruben Amorim is expected to oversee a significant team restructuring this summer following last season's disappointing 15th-place Premier League finish. After securing Matheus Cunha, Mbeumo was widely expected to be United's next addition.

Yet, progress on a deal has stalled. United have allegedly had two offers for the Cameroonian forward rejected by Brentford. Having already lost their manager and primary goalkeeper this summer, the Bees are reluctant to part with a forward who scored 20 top-flight goals last season.

Brentford are reportedly asking for up to £70 million ($94.7 million) for the 25-year-old, increasing their valuation after United's £60 million ($81.2 million) offer. While in previous years the Red Devils might have been persuaded to meet these inflated demands, ESPN reports that current chief executive Omar Berrada has established a strict maximum limit on any offer for Mbeumo.

The article doesn't specify an amount but mentions Bournemouth's Semenyo and Crystal Palace talent Eze as two alternative "options" for United.

Similar to Mbeumo, Semenyo is believed to be a priority target for Tottenham Hotspur, who seem to be targeting the same players as United this transfer window.

The Bournemouth attacker is expected to command a substantial fee, potentially increasing if a bidding competition with Spurs develops. Eze's price appears to be predetermined. A reported release clause in the England international's contract would make him available for a total of £68 million ($92.2 million), consisting of an initial £60 million payment plus £8 million in performance-related bonuses.

Mbeumo netted more Premier League goals last season (20) than Semenyo (11) and Eze (8) together, while also contributing seven assists. However, when considering chance quality created and converted rather than raw statistics, both Eze (0.52) and Semenyo (0.44) recorded higher expected goal and assist figures than Mbeumo (0.42) during the previous campaign.