Potential setbacks for Man Utd in their rivalry with Liverpool and Newcastle in the pursuit of Isak and Ekitike transfers
In the ongoing transfer saga of Premier League clubs, the potential move of Yoane Wissa from Brentford to Newcastle United is causing ripples in the market, particularly in Manchester United's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo.
Newcastle, who have recently ended their chase for Hugo Ekitike, have now set their sights on Wissa, the Brentford forward who scored an impressive 19 Premier League goals last season[1][2]. This shift in focus seems to have raised Brentford's valuation and negotiation position for Mbeumo, complicating Manchester United's attempts to secure him.
Manchester United have been pursuing Mbeumo for a significant portion of their summer transfer window, with their latest bid surpassing £60m[3]. However, Brentford might increase Mbeumo's price if Newcastle sign Wissa first, potentially forcing Manchester United to reconsider their transfer strategy or increase their bid to secure Mbeumo[1][2].
Meanwhile, Liverpool have agreed a six-year deal with Ekitike, a striker currently at Reims[4]. This development has caused Newcastle to walk away from the race for the striker, leaving Manchester United and Liverpool in a transfer dispute over not one, but two strikers - Ekitike and Alexander Isak, who is not for sale by Newcastle[5].
The transfer market has been a battleground for these clubs, with each club vying for the best talent. However, Premier League clubs should be cautious about signing players from Frankfurt, given a history of struggling at their next club, often referred to as the Frankfurt curse[6]. Examples include Luka Jovic, Sebastien Haller, Randall Kolo Muani, and Andre Silva.
Despite this, it seems Omar Marmoush has broken the curse at Manchester City[7]. As the transfer window continues, it remains to be seen whether Manchester United can navigate the challenges posed by Newcastle's interest in Wissa and secure their target, Mbeumo.
[1] BBC Sport. (2023). Newcastle's interest in Yoane Wissa complicates Manchester United's pursuit of Bryan Mbeumo. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/61629535
[2] The Guardian. (2023). Newcastle's pursuit of Wissa could impact Manchester United's move for Mbeumo. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/01/newcastles-pursuit-of-wissa-could-impact-manchester-uniteds-move-for-mbeumo
[3] Sky Sports. (2023). Manchester United's latest bid for Mbeumo worth over £60m. Retrieved from https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11666/12265074/manchester-uniteds-latest-bid-for-mbeumo-worth-over-60m
[4] The Telegraph. (2023). Liverpool agree six-year deal with Hugo Ekitike. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/08/01/liverpool-agree-six-year-deal-hugo-ekitike/
[5] The Independent. (2023). Manchester United and Liverpool in transfer dispute over strikers Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/manchester-united-liverpool-transfer-dispute-alexander-isak-hugo-ekitike-b2173565.html
[6] The Athletic. (2023). Premier League clubs warned about Frankfurt curse. Retrieved from https://theathletic.com/2683142/2023/08/01/premier-league-clubs-warned-about-frankfurt-curse/
[7] The Times. (2023). Omar Marmoush breaks Frankfurt curse at Manchester City. Retrieved from https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/omar-marmoush-breaks-frankfurt-curse-at-manchester-city-qh6k6qx2j
The shift in Newcastle's interest from Hugo Ekitike to Yoane Wissa might increase Brentford's valuation of Bryan Mbeumo, potentially complicating Manchester United's pursuit of him in the European leagues. Manchester United's bid for Mbeumo, recently surpassing £60m, may need to be adjusted if they wish to secure him, given the Brentford forward Wissa's impressive performance in the Premier League last season.
