Liverpool 'battling Prem rival' for Bryan Mbeumo as Brentford star teases transfer

Bryan Mbeumo has suggested that his time at Brentford could be up amid interest from Liverpool and Newcastle United. The Cameroon international is approaching the final two years of his contract, which puts the Bees in a tricky position this summer.

Despite the fact he’s only 24 years old, Mbeumo is approaching his 300th senior appearance, with exactly 200 of them coming at Brentford. The versatile forward struck nine goals in 2023/24 for the second consecutive Premier League campaign.

Able to play out wide or through the middle, Mbeumo’s sharp shooting has earned him admirers at some of the division’s top clubs. According to L’Equipe, Liverpool and Newcastle have both expressed an interest in the 24-year-old.

And Mbeumo admits that being linked with clubs of that magnitude is ‘enticing’. “I’ve spent five seasons at Brentford, in a club that knew how to help me grow and take a step forward,” he told L’Equipe.

“But yes, I want to play in the biggest competitions, in the best clubs. It’s still enticing to see some big teams interested in me. We’ll see.”

Liverpool are scouring the market for new signings to boost Arne Slot’s chances of finding success in his debut season. The Reds have been searching for another killer attacking trio since Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino left Mohamed Salah to fend for himself at Anfield.

Newcastle, meanwhile, are aiming to kick on from the seventh-place finish which saw them miss out on European qualification due to Manchester United’s FA Cup win.

Rated at just over £32million by Transfermarkt, Mbeumo could be a cheaper option than many other big-name attackers in the summer window. But whether Brentford are prepared to let him go is another matter altogether.

The Bees are already preparing to lose star striker Ivan Toney, and bidding farewell to his partner in crime before the start of next season risks weakening the squad considerably. However, with Mbeumo’s contract winding down, the forthcoming window could represent their best chance of banking a healthy fee.

The player has made it clear that he wants to test himself at the top level. And the Troyes academy product has hinted that his game could go up a notch in years to come.

“I have qualities for that that I have not yet fully exploited,” he continued. “In the last action too, I must be even more killer, more decisive. I also know how important it is to work off the pitch. I set up programs with a sports coach. I am following a virtual reality program that allows me to improve my cognitive abilities. You have to be ready for the future.”