£70m Man Utd transfer deal has now stalled after Jim Ratcliffe intervention

According to The Guardian, negotiations have stalled as Sir Jim Ratcliffe is reluctant to meet Brentford’s revised £70 million valuation for the player.

United had initially aimed to secure Mbeumo for a lower fee, but Brentford are reportedly holding firm, complicating matters for the Red Devils.

If these reports hold true, it’s a major blow for United with the new Premier League season fast approaching.

Mbeumo was one of the standout performers in the league last season, racking up 20 goals and seven assists across 38 matches.

The 25-year-old seems tailor-made for a starring role at Old Trafford, where manager Ruben Amorim is in urgent need of attacking reinforcements to replace underperformers like Marcus Rashford, Antony, Jadon Sancho, and Alejandro Garnacho.

Despite lengthy discussions, the deal now looks unlikely to materialize, leaving United scrambling to identify a suitable alternative.

One silver lining in Ratcliffe’s stance is that it signals a shift from United’s history of paying inflated fees.

In recent years, the club has splashed out on big names like Paul Pogba, Romelu Lukaku, Harry Maguire, Antony, Rasmus Hojlund, and Mason Mount—many of whom failed to live up to expectations.

While Mbeumo could have been a smart addition, United shouldn’t be pressured into paying above market value just to get their man.

Brentford may have sensed an opportunity to exploit United’s past spending habits, but Ratcliffe’s intervention could mark a turning point in how the club conducts business—potentially a blessing in disguise.