Liverpool and Newcastle United are monitoring Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo as a potential summer addition, according to reports in France. L’Equipe reports that the 24-year-old has emerged as a target for the Anfield hierarchy as they prepare for the first transfer window under head coach Arne Slot. While Liverpool had previously been linked with West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, the Ghana international’s £85 million release clause is understood to be a significant deterrent. Brentford are expected to demand at least £50 million for Mbeumo, who has publicly declared his desire to move to a Champions League-calibre club.
Strategic shift from Mohammed Kudus to Mbeumo
Liverpool’s interest in Mbeumo suggests a prioritization of value over high-cost release clauses as the club enters a new era under sporting director Richard Hughes. Reports from Ghanaian sources in May suggested the Reds were weighing up a move for Kudus, but the 23-year-old's £85 million valuation creates potential complications regarding Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Mbeumo offers a tactically similar profile; like Mohamed Salah, he is a left-footed winger comfortable cutting inside from the right. In an interview with L’Equipe, Mbeumo confirmed his readiness for a step up: "I have spent five years at Brentford, a club that has allowed me to grow, but I would like to play in the biggest competitions at the best clubs."
Contextualising the Mohamed Salah succession plan
The pursuit of a right-sided forward is necessitated by the contract status of Mohamed Salah, whose current deal expires in June 2025. Following a £150 million verbal offer from Al-Ittihad last summer, Liverpool’s recruitment team is under pressure to secure a long-term replacement before Salah enters the final twelve months of his contract. Mbeumo has proven productive despite injury interruptions, recording nine goals and six assists in 25 Premier League appearances last season. His top-flight experience and age profile fit the statistical model favoured by Michael Edwards, Fenway Sports Group’s CEO of Football. Any move for the Cameroon international would significantly undercut the fees required for Kudus or Wolves' Pedro Neto, providing greater flexibility for Slot to address other areas of the squad.
Brentford are in a strong negotiating position but may find it difficult to retain Mbeumo if a formal bid arrives from a Champions League participant.