Why Bryan Mbeumo is one of the most sought-after wingers - Flourishing without Ivan Toney

Bryan Mbeumo's last minute winner in Brentford 4-3 win against Ipswich last Saturday may have been aided by a degree of fortune, as his weighted cross evaded goalkeeper Arijanet Muric and somehow drifted straight into the far corner. However, the Cameroonian's season as a whole thus far has been far from lucky. In the 2024/25 Premier League season to date, only Manchester City's Erling Haaland (11) has more goals than Brentford's no.19 (eight). Mbeumo has been the figurehead of the Bees' strong start to the campaign; they are in ninth place in the league and only Chelsea and Man City have scored more goals in the entire division. 

Mbeumo currently boasts a market value of €40 million, and this week has been linked with a January move to a number of top Premier League clubs, including Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle. He is one of the hottest properties in the Premier League right now, and reports have suggested that Brentford have slapped a £50m (€60m) price-tag on their winger, which may actually represent very good value to a number of clubs. So why is there so much interest in Mbeumo?

Why Bryan Mbeumo is one of the Premier League's most sought-after wingers

Mbeumo arrived from French side Troyes in 2019 for a fee of €6.5m, which was the club's second most expensive transfer fee at the time, only behind Ollie Watkins (signed for €7.22m from Exeter in 2017). He had got promoted with Troyes, scoring 11 goals in 37 games in Ligue 2, but had played just four Ligue 1 matches when Brentford signed him as a 19 year old. Mbeumo adapted to English football quickly, scoring 23 goals and providing 19 assists in two seasons in the Championship. However, his performances were usually overshadowed by out-an-out star strikers like Watkins and Ivan Toney (more on this later).

When a team is promoted to the Premier League, there are always question marks over whether players can adjust to the rise in level, such is the gulf in quality between the English top-flight and the Championship. Nevertheless, Mbeumo has proved he is right at home in the Premier League. The Cameroonian has scored 30 goals and provided 21 assists in 107 games in the division, and his numbers have been steadily on the up ever since he made his debut in the league in a famous 2-0 win vs Arsenal in August 2021.

Last season, Mbeumo started the campaign in top form. He scored seven goals and provided three assists in the first 15 games, before an ankle injury disrupted his campaign. As illustrated in the graphic above, the only wingers with a better goals per game ratio than Mbeumo's 0.50gpg since the start of last season are Mohamed Salah (0.59gpg) and Michael Olise (0.53gpg). There's been a consistent theme around his form in the Premier League, which has centred around Mbeumo being the main man. With Toney suspended for the first half of last campaign, Mbuemo flourished; that has continued this season with the 25 year old starting the term in electric fashion. 

How Bryan Mbeumo is flourishing without Ivan Toney

Toney became one of the most in-demand strikers in Europe when he scored 22 goals for Brentford in the 2022/23 season. He was the without doubt the Bees' most talked about asset. However, a ban for breaching betting rules in May 2023 saw him miss eight months of football. Nevertheless, this summer he finally got his move, but not that one people perhaps had expected; Saudi Pro League team Al-Ahli paid €42m to bring in the English striker on deadline day. When Toney was in the team, a lot of Brentford's play, understandably so, was centred around him, but without the 6"1" striker as the focal point Mbeumo has stepped up his game.

As showcased in the graphic above, Mbeumo's record in the Premier League without Toney is significantly better than when the pair have both been in the Brentford team. In 69 games alongside Toney, Mbeumo has scored just eight goals and provided only nine assists, equating to a ratio of 0.12 goals per game, and 0.13 assists per game. In the 36 games Mbeumo has played without Toney in the side, he has scored 21 goals and provided nine assists, equating to a notably better rate of 0.58 goals per game and 0.25 assists per game. It does appear Mbeumo thrives when he is the main man in attack - something that could potentially put off some big club suitors; he won't walk into the Liverpool or Arsenal dressing room and obtain that role.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle interested - who could Mbeumo sign for?

There seems to be a number of clubs in the Premier League who are considering a January move for Mbeumo, whose current contract runs until 2026, with the club holding an option for a further year. Football Insider reported this week that Arsenal are impressed by his versatility, offering an option up front, behind the striker and on the right flank, whilst The Telegraph reported that Newcastle would like to make a January move for Mbeumo, but are operating under quite tight spending restrictions and would have to sell to finance a deal. TalkSPORT have also reported that Liverpool are ready to battle with the aforementioned two clubs for Mbeumo's signature.

Speaking last month, manager Thomas Frank said, ‘He’s added another layer this year. For me, he’s a top player. I’m convinced one day he will play for a bigger club; I will definitely buy him if I was at a bigger club." Various reports have suggested that Brentford have set an asking price of £50m (€60m), and Frank's comments would suggest that the Bees are braced to lose their winger in the near future. Although, that figure is €20m north of his current market value of €40m, Mbeumo looks destined for a market value increase in December's Premier League market value updated, and at 25 years old and with Premier League experience could still represent a bargain to top clubs.