Mbeumo looks forward to forging Fernandes partnership at Man Utd

LONDON — Bryan Mbeumo says he is excited about linking up with Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, as he prepares for life at Old Trafford following his move from Brentford.

After weeks of drawn-out talks, the 25-year-old finally joined United last week for 65 million pounds ($87 million) plus a potential further 6 million pounds in add-ons.

The Cameroon winger, who scored 20 goals and provided seven assists for Brentford in the Premier League last season, has signed a five-year deal with United, becoming its third signing of the summer transfer window.

Mbeumo told the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast that Fernandes was the player he was most looking forward to playing with.

"Everyone sees, in the past years, he can shoot, he can cross, he can do crazy ball," he said.

"Yeah, for a striker, you just enjoy that."

Mbeumo is hoping to benefit from the experience of the Portuguese midfielder, who said last month he had rejected a huge offer from Saudi Arabia to stay at United, despite its struggles last season.

"On the pitch, when you're smart like he is, I think you don't even need to think a lot," he said.

"You just need to make the run and he's going to play you into the right space every time.

"But, of course, I can have a little discussion to let him know how I prefer the balls to arrive, and how I'm feeling the best to have the ball.

"But, at a certain point, there is only one way, even if it's not the one you like, you have to make the run, and he's going to put the ball in a good position."

Mbeumo's arrival follows the signings of Wolves forward Matheus Cunha and Paraguay left-back Diego Leon, from Cerro Porteno.

RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko is also a reported target, and United has recently been linked with Aston Villa's Ollie Watkins, and Mbeumo described his former Brentford teammate as the "complete striker", adding: "He can do a lot of things."

United is currently on a summer tour of the United States, preparing for its Premier League opener against Arsenal on Aug 17.

Trafford returns to City

Goalkeeper James Trafford has signed a deal to return to Manchester City from Burnley, the Premier League giant announced on Tuesday.

City activated a 27.5 million-pound ($36.7 million) buy-back clause for the 22-year-old England youth international, according to British media reports.

Trafford, who never played for the City senior team during his first spell at the Etihad Stadium, left for Burnley in 2023.

He struggled in his first season, as the Clarets were relegated from the Premier League, but equaled an English soccer record with 29 clean sheets last term to help Burnley earn promotion back into the top flight.

"This is the place I call home — it's a truly special football club with fantastic people who make it such a unique place to work and play," he said in a statement.

"I am still very young and hungry to keep learning and improving — and I know there is no better environment than Manchester City to help make me become the best goalkeeper I can be.

"I will do everything I can to help this great club achieve even more success."

City boss Pep Guardiola dropped established No 1 Ederson multiple times last season in favor of Stefan Ortega.

Trafford, who will wear the No 1 shirt, will battle with Brazilian Ederson to be first choice.

He is City's sixth signing of the transfer window after it finished third last season, well adrift of eventual champion Liverpool in its bid for a fifth straight Premier League title.

Since the end of last season, Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders, Marcus Bettinelli, Rayan Cherki and Sverre Nypan have all made the move to the club.

AFP