Chelsea Bryan Mbeumo transfer hijack truth as £71m Man Utd signing makes feelings clear

Chelsea have been credited with a shock role in Bryan Mbeumo's £71m transfer to Manchester United, which was finally concluded on Monday night.

For six weeks the Old Trafford club had been locked in negotiations with Brentford, where the 25-year-old had caught the eye with 42 goals and 30 assists over four Premier League seasons.

Across that period United had seen two offers turned down, eventually bringing the saga to a close paying £65m up front with a further £6m to potentially be paid through add-ons.

However, depending on where you gather this information it is claimed that Chelsea may have applied pressure to their rivals with an ambitious hijack attempt of the deal.

Here, football.london analyses the latest on this twist in the Mbeumo saga.

Chelsea hijack disputed

Through the Daily Mail it was claimed in the last two weeks of United's negotiations, Chelsea came forward with their interest in last season's 20-goal forward, Mbeumo.

United were apparently unhappy with the way the negotiations were 'dragged out', placing the blame for this on Brentford. Meanwhile the Blues would supposedly been happy to mop up if anything went wrong.

But countering this are The Telegraph, who state no such action from Stamford Bridge chiefs took place, with Chelsea sources disputing that version of events. Mbeumo completed his £71m move distraction free.

Tottenham Hotspur, now with Mbeumo's former manager Thomas Frank in charge, had fallen out of the race early whilst Arsenal and Newcastle United were also credited with an interest early on.

football.london says: If they did, Chelsea could not be blamed for holding interest in Mbeumo, after all he is one of the Premier League's most clinical in front of goal. What would be highly ineffective of them is wasting the time and resources on trying to sign a player who had reportedly rejected any other move than United at the very start of the process, and even if they were genuinely serious giving their rivals a four-week head start seems counter intuitive.

Mbeumo speaks out

Via the Manchester Evening News, Mbeumo spoke to his new club for the first time after being confirmed as a new United player and reaffirmed his stance that he only had eyes for them.

"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," the Cameroon international said.

"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."

football.london says: And that says more than enough. Mbeumo would never have had his head turned by Chelsea four weeks after setting his heart on joining United. If there was a late hijack attempt it would have been too little, too late.

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