Man Utd beat four clubs to Bryan Mbeumo signing as Brentford tried to sabotage deal

Manchester United have finally confirmed the signing of Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford in a £71million deal after beating off competition from Arsenal, Tottenham, Newcastle and Chelsea.

United had previously seen two bids for Mbeumo rejected but managed to clinch their target with a third offer of £65m plus an additional £6m in performance-related bonuses - some eight weeks after they first made their move.

But according to the Mirror, Brentford tried to put pressure on Mbeumo to join Tottenham or Newcastle, and it came to light that Chelsea made a last-ditch attempt to snatch him from under United's nose. However, the 25-year-old striker only had eyes for United and made it clear to Brentford he wouldn't consider moving elsewhere.

Brentford initially demanded a fee of £70m plus £7m in add-ons, but United successfully haggled down the final price, with the extras tied to a blend of team and individual achievements.

It's also reported that Brentford tried to get Mbeumo to lower his wage demands to bump up the transfer fee they'd pocket, but the player stood firm and ignored the attempts.

Mbeumo is set to jet off with the rest of the United squad on Tuesday for their pre-season tour of the US and is set to make his debut on Saturday against West Ham at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.

The Cameroon international has put pen to paper on a contract running until June 2030, with the option of an extra year and will earn £200,000-a-week.

Mbeumo, who netted 20 goals in the Premier League last season and registered eight assists, said: "As soon as I knew there was a chance to join Manchester United, I had to take the opportunity to sign for the club of my dreams - the team whose shirt I wore growing up.

"My mentality is to always be better than I was yesterday. I know that I have the spirit and character to reach another level here, learning from Ruben Amorim and playing alongside world-class players.

"Everybody told me about the environment that is being created here and how exciting the plans are for the future. This is a massive club, with an incredible stadium and amazing fans, we are all really determined to challenge for the biggest trophies."

Jason Wilcox, United's Director of Football, commented: "Bryan's goals and assists record in the Premier League is exceptional, his remarkable consistency has put him amongst the most productive players in England for the last three seasons.

"Bryan's belief in our project and determination to join the club confirmed that he was the perfect fit for Manchester United and the culture that we are developing.

"We are delighted to have secured another one of our primary targets ahead of the pre-season tour. The experience in the US will be the perfect opportunity for Bryan to work with Ruben and his new team-mates as we prepare for an exciting season ahead."