‘Very easy to answer’ – Thomas Frank gives clear response to Bryan Mbeumo transfer question
Today at 12:10 PM
Thomas Frank has insisted that Bryan Mbeumo will not leave Brentford in the January transfer window.
The Bees forward has caught the eye of a number of clubs having enjoyed a stunning first half of the season which has seen him score 13 league goals and provide three assists.
And after another impressive display in the Bees’ 2-2 draw with Manchester City on Tuesday, this again prompted speculation that the 25-year-old’s future could lie away from west London.
Despite not getting on the scoresheet, the Cameroon star was a constant threat as his side fought back from 2-0 to claim a point.
After late goals from Yoane Wissa and Christian Norgaard brought Brentford level, Mbeumo nearly netted a last-gasp winner when his effort was headed off the line by Nathan Ake in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
And while Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle and Tottenham are all reportedly interested in the winger, Bees head coach Thomas Frank was clear that he would not depart the club this month.
Speaking to talkSPORT’s Alex Crook, the Dane was asked if there was any chance that Mbeumo could leave in January after his performance against Man City.
“No.” Frank immediately replied. “So, very easy to answer that question!”
Back in November, Brentford were believed to have slapped a £50million asking price on their main man.
And while Mbeumo may not be set for an immediate move, there can be little doubt that he will continue to be linked with bigger clubs in the summer should he keep up his current performance levels.
At the midway point of the season, the former Troyes man has already charted his greatest goalscoring season in the Premier League.
Having struck nine times in each of the last two seasons, Mbeumo smashed his personal record in December when he netted in a 2-1 defeat to Chelsea.
He is now on course to surpass the 15 league goals he scored for the Bees in the Championship in 2019/20 – his career-best total so far.
What makes the Cameroonian’s exploits this term all the more impressive is that he has seamlessly stepped up to fill the void left by former headline act Ivan Toney.
With the Englishman departing for Saudi club Al Ahli in the summer, Mbeumo has since struck up a deadly partnership with Yoane Wissa.
The pair have been one of the Premier League’s deadliest attacking duos, with the Congolese international boasting an impressive 11 goals to his name.
But with Mbeumo taking on the lead role at Brentford, he has been tipped by talkSPORT’s Jason Cundy to take over from Mohamed Salah at Liverpool.
The Egyptian is in the final six months of his contract at Anfield, and has previously said that no progress has been made on negotiations over a new deal.
Speaking in December, Cundy suggested that the Brentford star could be a like-for-like replacement for Salah.
He said: "Mbeumo, I think, when you look at what might happen at Liverpool with Salah… I'm looking at Mbeumo and what he's capable of.
“He's a little mini Salah, off that right hand side, his left foot."
