Manchester United’s plans for the January transfer market are picking up pace. The club might become one of the busiest in England before the window closes.
United are reportedly open to selling several players. Kobbie Mainoo and Alejandro Garnacho could be sold to comply with the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability (PSR) rules.
However, another player is grabbing most of the headlines.

Marcus Rashford wants to join Barcelona after being told he can leave on loan. While a lot still needs to happen for an agreement, the club’s owners are already exploring options for his replacement.
Bryan Mbeumo Could Surpass Rashford’s Best Season
Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo has caught the attention of United. The 25-year-old has impressed at the Gtech Community Stadium and is also on the radar of Tottenham and Arsenal.
United see Mbeumo as a potential replacement for Marcus if they sell the England forward.
The Cameroon international is having an incredible season under Thomas Frank. He is only four league goals away from matching Marcus’s best-ever Premier League season (2019-20), with 10 games still to play.
Statistic | Marcus Rashford 2019-20 | Bryan Mbeumo 2024-25 |
---|---|---|
Appearances | 31 | 21 |
Goals | 17 | 13 |
Assists | 7 | 3 |
Yellow cards | 3 | 2 |
Red cards | 0 | 0 |
Stats via Transfermarkt. |
Whenever he leaves Brentford, Mbeumo is likely to break the club’s transfer record. His move will almost certainly surpass Ivan Toney’s £40 million transfer to Al Ahli last summer.
Could Mbeumo move to United? And would he really be a better fit for Ruben Amorim’s team than Marcus?
Mbeumo’s Numbers Show He Could Be an Upgrade
Mbeumo may not arrive with superstar status, but he is one of the Premier League’s most underrated forwards.
At 25, he is two years younger than Rashford and has been far more consistent. Since joining Brentford from Troyes in 2019, he has spent three full seasons in the Premier League and delivered double-digit goal contributions in all of them.
In the same period, Marcus only achieved double figures once (2022-23).
Rashford’s time at United seems to be nearing its end. While his next club is still unknown, Mbeumo would be a strong replacement if Sir Jim Ratcliffe decides to take that route.