Even before Tottenham hired Thomas Frank as their new manager to replace Ange Postecoglou, Spurs were hoping to land Brentford right winger Bryan Mbeumo. The 25-year-old was arguably the biggest breakout star of the 2024/25 Premier League season, scoring 20 goals with 7 assists for a Brentford side that clearly outplayed Tottenham in league play.
With Son Heung-min getting older and now considering leaving the club this summer while striker Dominic Solanke is more of an all-arond profile, Tottenham need to prioritize goal-scoring wingers in the summer transfer market. Purchasing Mathys Tel permanently is a step in the right direction with the future in mind on the left side of the attack, but Spurs would still need someone on the right, preferably an immediate difference-maker.
Although Tottenham may have an advantage to signing Mbeumo after hiring his coach at Brentford, Spurs are still considered the underdogs in this transfer battle. Mbeumo had already chosen to make Manchester United his priority destination, and it doesn't take a genius to tell you that Man United hold such an advantage because they are willing to pay higher wages than Daniel Levy and Tottenham are.
But maybe Tottenham can get Mbeumo to reconsider. Funnily enough, a former Manchester United player seems to be doing that for them, as long-time Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster pretty much told Mbeumo straight-up that he should reconsider choosing Manchester United solely for the wages and so-called prestige.
Manchester United has ruined promising careers
Here's what Foster said on his Fozcast podcast: “If you are happy picking up your wages knowing that there's going to be an awful lot more pressure, a lot more eyes on you, a lot more judgement and failure is just part of what they do, then you'd go to Manchester United.”
It's hard to think of a more scathing way to sum up a Manchester United transfer than this one, but if anyone would know about the hoopla players experience at Old Trafford, then it would be someone who played there during the club's decline phase post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
Foster can speak publicly about his experiences and use that to give advice to players like Mbuemo, which Tottenham will gladly take. And the proof is in the pudding. Antony, Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba, and so many other talented footballers have seen their careers derailed by a move to Manchester United, with the likes of Lukaku and Antony recovering pretty much immediately after leaving those barren walls.
Mbeumo can't say he wasn't warned. He could make significantly more money at Manchester United, but not only did Tottenham beat them in the Europa League this season, they will also have his old coach and a lot less of a circus around them.