Arsenal and Liverpool dealt blow in pursuit of £50m-rated Premier League forward

12/30/2024 11:24 AM

Brentford manager Thomas Frank insisted that Bryan Mbeumo will not be leaving the club in the January transfer window despite reported interest from Arsenal and Liverpool.

Mbeumo has been a mainstay for the west London side since their promotion to the Premier League but has kicked on this season following the departure of Ivan Toney in the summer.

The Cameroonian international has notched up ten goals and two assists in 18 league matches, with only five players registering more goals so far this season.

Mbeumo’s contract with Brentford expires in 2026, although the club do have an option to extend it for another season.

However, given the 25-year-old’s fine form this season, Brentford are faced with a battle on their hands to keep the forward at the club when the transfer window reopens shortly.

Reports earlier in the year suggested that Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle are all interested in Mbeumo, with Brentford slapping a £50million price tag on their prized asset.

But Brentford boss Frank insisted that the club will not even entertain the possibility of letting go of Mbeumo in January.

‘[What would say to] those clubs clubs in January? I would say good luck,’ Frank told reporters when asked about Mbeumo’s potential departure ahead of Brentford’s clash with Arsenal on Wednesday.

‘We love Bryan, he loves playing here. He’s had a fantastic season so nothing will happen [in January].’

Arsenal’s plans to try and lure Mbeumo to the Emirates may have intensified after the long-term injury picked up by Bukayo Saka earlier this month.

Saka has registered five goals and ten assists in the league so far this season but his now looking at several months on the sidelines having undergone surgery on his hamstring.

The Gunners have also been linked with a loan move for Paris Saint-Germain forward Randal Kolo Muani who has been frozen out by Luis Enrique.

Liverpool, meanwhile, may only consider a move for Mbeumo should they be unable to convince Mohamed Salah to extend his stay at Anfield.

The Egyptian forward sent more records tunmbling against West Ham on Sunday but later admitted him and the club were ‘far away’ from agreeing terms on an extension.

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.