Manchester United’s pursuit of Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo has hit complications, prompting the club’s internal data analysis department to accelerate work on alternative attacking targets.
Despite admiration for the Cameroonian winger, sources close to the club suggest that Brentford’s valuation and the player’s desire to play European football may complicate any potential move to Old Trafford.
With United looking to strengthen their wide attacking options under new manager Rúben Amorim, the club’s statistical recruitment team has highlighted 10 younger, data-efficient alternatives based on key metrics from last season.
Why Mbeumo is Complicated
Mbeumo enjoyed a breakout season in 2024/25, delivering:
23 goals
10 assists
Strong xG/xA values of 0.3 and 0.2 per 90
Over 3.8 dribbles per 90 with a 56% success rate
However, Brentford are reluctant to sell their talisman for anything less than £60 million — and with Arsenal also circling, the competition could spark a bidding war.
Popular United’s stats man have therefore used performance data across Europe to compile a shortlist of younger, cost-effective alternatives — many of whom posted impressive attacking metrics.
10 Statistical Alternatives to Mbeumo Identified by United’s Data Team
Player
Age
Club
Goals
Assists
xG/90
xA/90
Dribbles/90
Passes Received/90
Antoine Semenyo
25
Bournemouth
13
3
0.29
0.11
4.69
19.62
Yankuba Minteh
20
Brighton
11
5
0.23
0.26
6.33
14.78
Enzo Millot
22
Stuttgart
11
7
0.34
0.13
2.99
35.41
Dango Ouattara
23
Bournemouth
10
6
0.38
0.18
5.72
14.95
Dilane Bakwa
22
Strasbourg
6
9
0.12
0.21
6.06
27.04
Nico Paz
20
Como
6
5
0.29
0.13
4.44
28.67
Facundo Buonanotte
20
Leicester City
5
2
0.22
0.08
4.37
21.82
Omari Hutchinson
21
Ipswich Town
3
2
0.12
0.08
6.17
18.96
Mateus Fernandes
20
Southampton
3
5
0.13
0.1
2.48
25.61
Tyler Dibling
19
Southampton
2
1
0.14
0.06
4.81
19.42
🧠 What the Stats Say
Minteh, Ouattara, and Bakwa posted some of the highest dribble numbers, showing explosive potential out wide.
Millot and Bakwa led in combined creative output (goals + assists).
Omari Hutchinson had the highest dribbles per 90 (6.17) among all the targets, though with modest end product.
Semenyo showed the most balanced production — 13 goals with decent xG (0.29), making him a reliable physical option.
🎯 United’s Recruitment Shift
Manchester United are reportedly prioritising:
Younger, Premier League-ready attackers
Players with strong dribble volume and shot-creation stats
Lower market value than Mbeumo or Rodrygo
With Amorim expected to introduce a dynamic 4-3-3 system, United are keen to sign a wide attacker who can carry the ball, press high, and create under pressure — all traits visible in the names above.
While Bryan Mbeumo remains a top-level target, Manchester United’s data-led recruitment approach ensures they won’t panic. With a pool of statistically sound, high-upside alternatives now being considered, United could strike smart rather than splash — and avoid getting drawn into another transfer tug-of-war.
