6 Wingers Brentford Could Target to Replace Man United bound Bryan Mbeumo

Manchester United look increasingly close to landing Bryan Mbeumo, and Brentford know they can’t afford to be caught flat-footed. With talks progressing and personal terms reportedly being discussed, the 25-year-old forward could be on his way to Old Trafford in what would be one of the biggest sales in the club’s Premier League era. Mbeumo has been a key figure in Thomas Frank’s system, not just for his goals and assists but for his tireless pressing, tactical discipline and ability to create chaos from the right.

Replacing that won’t be easy, but Brentford have never been afraid to plan ahead. Their recruitment team is already working through a shortlist of possible successors, looking for someone who can carry the attacking load without disrupting the balance of the side. From Bundesliga-linked talents to under-the-radar performers in Scotland and Austria, here are six realistic names who could step into Mbeumo’s boots and possibly take them even further.

1. Johan Bakayoko (PSV Eindhoven)

Age: 22
Club: PSV
Key Stats (Percentile Rank among Wingers):

• Progressive Carries: 98.4
• Dribbles: 98.6
• Non-Penalty Goals: 95.5
• xG + xA: 88.4
• Key Passes: 89.5
• Offensive Actions: 99.5
• Assists: 15.2

Bakayoko doesn’t just carry the ball well; he lives off it. At PSV, he’s operated almost like a vertical launchpad, breaking defensive lines at will and stretching play with constant movement. He’s in the top percentile for offensive involvement and individual attacking actions, which fits snugly into Brentford’s need for a high-volume wide threat.

What’s striking is that, despite his explosiveness and evident involvement in the buildup, he ranks surprisingly low in assists. That 15th percentile figure is a bit misleading though, his 89.5th percentile for key passes suggests chance creation is there, just not always met with good finishing or positioning from teammates. In a Brentford side that values data-driven end product, you’d back that to level out. He has been linked with a £20m move as of late to Bournemouth, which could be a snip for someone with a ceiling as high as Bakayoko’s.

Add in his 95.5 percentile non-penalty goal rate and you’ve got a player who can both carry and finish moves. If Brentford want someone to take the creative and scoring baton from Mbeumo, Bakayoko feels like a statement of ambition.

2. Dango Ouattara (Bournemouth)

Age: 23
League: Premier League
Key Stats:

• Dribbles: 74th
• NPG: 78th
• xG + xA: 91st
• Offensive actions: 81.8th

Ouattara has quietly had a solid campaign with Bournemouth, and his numbers suggest there’s still another level to hit. He combines goal threat with decent creative metrics and holds his own in attacking actions.

Dango Ouattara was linked with a move to Newcastle United earlier in the season, with the Magpies reportedly keeping tabs on his progress as they looked to add more direct pace and goal threat to their frontline. While a move didn’t materialise in January, the interest highlighted how highly rated the Burkina Faso international remains within Premier League circles. At Bournemouth, he’s had to compete for minutes in a crowded forward line, and with players like Marcus Tavernier, Justin Kluivert and Antoine Semenyo all vying for similar roles, the club may be open to selling Ouattara if a suitable offer comes in.

His versatility is a major asset, he’s comfortable across the entire front three, whether cutting inside from the left, stretching defences on the right or playing centrally when needed. Add in a decent goal return and solid metrics for dribbling and xG involvement, and he looks like a player who could thrive in a system that gives him more structure and a clearer attacking role.

His 52nd percentile for progressive carries might raise questions, but that’s more reflective of Bournemouth’s more direct build-up. Under a coach like Frank, who encourages transitional attacks with targeted possession, you could imagine Ouattara thriving with more structure.

3. Nene Dorgeles (Red Bull Salzburg)

Age: 22
League: Austrian Bundesliga
Key Stats:

• NPG: 96.3rd
• xG + xA: 93.1st
• Offensive actions: 74.3rd
• Assists: 67.5th
• Key passes: 78.9th

Nene Dorgeles isn’t short of suitors ahead of what looks likely to be his final stretch at RB Salzburg. The Malian winger, who has scored 13 goals and chipped in with 4 assists across 30 league appearances this season, has caught the eye of scouts from across Europe, including Manchester United. According to reports from Rudy Galetti, both French and Italian clubs have already made contact with Salzburg to explore a potential deal, and while nothing is agreed, Dorgeles is said to be open to a new challenge. With a contract running until 2028, Salzburg hold a strong position, but interest is growing fast for a player whose consistency and end product have made him one of the most sought-after wide players outside the top five leagues.

Nene is the wildcard option. A pure end-product machine at Salzburg, he’s all about danger in the final third. Whether it’s bursting into the box or threading a pass, he’s consistently in the right areas.

His dribbling and carry numbers are less eye-catching than some of the others, but Brentford might not need a line-breaking dribbler if they’re looking to increase goals from wide. He’s a bit more of a poacher-in-disguise than a traditional winger.

And Salzburg’s transfer model means Nene could be a very gettable target.

4. Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad)

Age: 23
Age: 23
Club: Real Sociedad
Key Stats (Percentile Rank among Wingers):

• Progressive Carries: 94.1
• Dribbles: 95.9
• Offensive Actions: 91.6
• Key Passes: 76.8
• Non-Penalty Goals: 50.9
• xG + xA: 28.0
• Assists: 0.2

Takefusa Kubo is another name emerging on the radar of Premier League clubs this summer, with Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg listing the Japanese winger as one to watch in the transfer market. Despite a mixed statistical profile this season, Kubo still managed 7 goals and 4 assists for Real Sociedad and continues to attract interest thanks to his agility, technical quality, and ability to operate on the right flank. The 24-year-old is under contract until 2029, but a reported release clause of €30–40 million could make a move feasible for clubs like Brentford who are seeking dynamic wide options. While his creative output hasn’t always matched his build-up play, Kubo’s style of carrying the ball and breaking lines could be a tempting prospect for Thomas Frank, especially in a system designed to exploit space in transition.

Kubo’s radar paints the picture of a winger who does nearly everything right until it’s time to deliver the final ball. His dribbling and carrying stats are elite, comfortably above the 95th percentile, and his attacking involvement backs that up, he’s constantly on the ball, often responsible for advancing play down the right channel.

But the issue is stark: his expected output and actual assists are miles off where they should be. An assist percentile of 0.2 suggests the link-up around him is broken, or he’s not making the best decisions once he reaches the danger zone. It could also point to Real Sociedad’s more patient, methodical attacking style not giving him the openings he thrives on.

There’s obvious talent here. Brentford could be tempted if they believe he’s miscast in San Sebastián and would flourish in a more vertical, direct side. At 23 and with over 2500 minutes this season, Kubo’s not raw anymore — he’s at the stage where those next steps have to come soon. It’s a risk, but one with a high technical ceiling.

5. Nicolas Kühn (Celtic)

Age: 25
League: Scottish Premiership
Key Stats:

• Non-penalty goals: 99.2nd
• xG + xA: 99.3rd
• Assists: 94.5th
• Progressive carries: 95.1st
• Dribbles: 94.3rd

Kühn might be the most well-rounded option of the lot. He’s putting up elite numbers across the board, scoring, assisting, carrying, and creating. Yes, the Scottish Premiership is a step below the Premier League, but that shouldn’t take away from his output consistency and tactical intelligence.

What’s more impressive is his work rate off the ball and positional discipline. He fits the Brentford mould stylistically, and you’d back him to slot in without a fuss. He’s slightly older than the others, but at 25, he’s entering his peak.

Brentford have reportedly identified Nicolas Kühn as their leading candidate to replace Bryan Mbeumo, with the club stepping up interest in the Celtic winger amid growing links between Mbeumo and Manchester United. According to TEAMtalk, Kühn is seen by Thomas Frank and his recruitment team as the ideal successor, a direct, high-output attacker capable of maintaining the team’s creative spark. The 25-year-old German, who joined Celtic from Rapid Wien in January 2024, has impressed with his pace, flair and consistency in the final third. Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott called him “a very gifted footballer” following his Champions League brace against RB Leipzig, and Brentford are said to be seriously considering a move in the region of £20 million. With competition from Brighton and interest from Bundesliga clubs, the Bees are pushing early to secure a player they view as stylistically and tactically aligned with Mbeumo’s role in their system.

6. Noni Madueke (Chelsea)

Age: 23
League: Premier League
Key Stats:

• Progressive carries: 97.5th
• Dribbles: 94.5th
• Att. actions: 94.8th
• xG + xA: 90.7th
• Assists: 28th

If Chelsea decide to streamline their bloated squad, Madueke could be one of the names up for grabs. His profile screams explosiveness — he gets the ball and goes, often terrifying defenders with his mix of pace and strength.

His end product is still inconsistent, but at 23 there’s time to iron that out. The bigger issue might be availability and price, Brentford would likely need a favourable deal, maybe even a loan, to make it happen. But if the finances line up, this is a high-ceiling option.

Madueke would give Brentford a different gear on the counter.

One Eye on the Exit, One on the Future

Bryan Mbeumo’s potential exit will sting. He’s more than just a stats merchant; he’s a tempo-setter, a worker, and a leader. But Brentford’s strength lies in planning ahead. Whether it’s through statistical scouting, clever recruitment, or knowing when to sell, they’ve made a habit of turning losses into opportunities.

Each of the six names we’ve gone through ticks different boxes, some are raw but electric, others polished but less explosive. But when weighing up the mix of production, style fit, age profile, and potential transfer feasibility, Johan Bakayoko stands out.

He’s the closest stylistic match to Mbeumo in terms of directness, dribbling volume, and goal threat, but with even greater upside in 1v1 situations and ball progression. His carry-heavy game, coupled with elite attacking action involvement, mirrors the role Mbeumo has mastered at Brentford. Yes, his assist return is low, but the underlying numbers, particularly key passes and expected output, suggest that can change in the right system.

Bakayoko already looks like a Champions League-level winger. The fact Brentford could realistically land him before one of Europe’s big hitters makes it even more compelling. If they move early and back their coaching structure, he could be more than an Mbeumo replacement; he could be the club’s next breakout star.

It’s a big call to make. But Bakayoko looks like the right one.

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