Here comes the hijack! Tottenham hold talks with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo after Thomas Frank appointment amid rival interest from Man Utd

Spurs made headlines earlier this week when they secured Frank and his backroom team, including highly-rated assistant Justin Cochrane, from Brentford, shelling out around £10 million ($13.5m) in compensation. Now, Mbeumo could potentially be the first of Frank’s former players to follow him to north London, as Tottenham seem determined to back their new manager in the transfer market, as revealed by Sky Sports.

Until recently, United were considered front-runners to secure Mbeumo’s services. The Red Devils had even seen a £55m ($75m) bid rejected by Brentford, with the west London club holding out for a figure closer to £60m ($81m). Reports now suggest that Mbeumo is increasingly drawn to the idea of working under Frank again, with the familiarity of the manager’s system and coaching staff playing a key role in his growing interest. It has been suggested that initial negotiations have already taken place between Spurs and Brentford, although a formal offer is yet to be made.

Mbeumo's importance to Brentford has been indisputable, with the Cameroon international amassing 70 goals and 51 assists across 242 appearances for the Bees since joining in 2019. He enjoyed a stellar 2024–25 campaign, registering 20 goals in the Premier League. His tally placed him fourth among the league’s top scorers, trailing only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, and Alexander Isak.

While Old Trafford remains a prestigious destination, the lack of continental football and increasing instability at the club may diminish its appeal to top-tier targets like Mbeumo. By contrast, Tottenham, despite enduring their own league struggles, will be playing Champions League football next season after they beat the Red Devils in the Europa League final - a fact that could tip the scales in their favour.