LIVERPOOL and Newcastle are set to battle it out in a race for one of the Premier League’s hottest properties.
The current league leaders and the Geordie giants are both tracking Bryan Mbeumo – whose form for Brentford this season has been electrifying.
Eddie Howe has long been an admirer of the forward, who has scored eight goals in 11 Premier League starts this season.
However, the Cameroonian hitman has now caught the attention of Arne Slot.
He regards the Brentford forward as a brilliant option for Liverpool due to the versatility he offers.
Like ex-cult hero Sadio Mane, the 25-year-old would be able to comfortably fit into any of the front three roles at Anfield.
Liverpool have been scouting the forward all season and are now weighing up a summer move for the player.
He’s even seen as a potential replacement for Mo Salah – whose future at Liverpool remains unclear.
But the Merseysiders won’t have things all their own way.
Scouts from St. James’ Park have also been watching the player, who Howe is believed to regard as his number one target.
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SunSport understands they’d even be willing to offer Callum Wilson as a potential makeweight in a deal should Brentford be willing to sell the £50million-rated player.
A move for the Indomitable Lions star was mooted in the summer.
However, a disappointing summer window on Tyneside followed with the club adding just Lloyd Kelly and William Osula as senior outfield players.
They may reignite their interest in Mbeumo in January, but the Bees will be very reluctant to see one of their key men leave the club during the season.
It’s also likely Newcastle will have to part with around £50m to sign him.
Mbeumo’s stunning start to the campaign has helped limit the effects of Ivan Toney‘s move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli.
Toney moved to Saudi Arabia in the final few days of the summer window with the Bees netting £40m from his sale.
Brentford manager Thomas Frank admitted in September that he expected Mbeumo to leave the club sooner rather than later following his blistering start to the season.
He said: “He was our biggest miss for four months last year, even with Toney out.
“He was our key player and has added another layer this season with five goals in six games.
“That’s incredible and he’s creating chances. He’s a top player. I’m convinced he will play for a bigger club. I’d buy him if I was at a bigger club.
“We convinced him to stay and he’s very happy. All our players might need to leave us one day but a lot of them are happy because we have a top environment, with good people. We push each other.”
FORMER Chelsea, Arsenal and Portsmouth midfielder Lassana Diarra has won his landmark case at the European Court of Justice.
SunSport’s Martin Lipton explains what it was all about – and what it might mean for the future of football…
What was the case about?
Diarra argued Fifa’s transfer rules were illegal after the world body backed Lokomotiv Moscow’s claim that he had broken his contract by refusing to train with them.
Is that it?
No. Belgian club Charleroi wanted to sign Diarra but were told they would have to pay the money he was fined by Moscow, while Fifa refused to issue an International Transfer Certificate unless they coughed up.
Okay, so what does the ruling mean?
Theoretically players will have the right to break their contracts and switch clubs without a fee changing hands – just like any employee in any other industry.
Hang on – does that mean the END of transfer fees?
Potentially, yes. Although players would have to want to move.
We would basically end up with a US-style “collective bargaining” model where players would be free to move within transfer windows without impunity.
Clubs might be able to “trade” players – swap deals – but with no extra cash changing hands.
Is everybody agreed about this?
Absolutely not. Fifa claimed the ruling “only puts in question two paragraphs of two articles” of its transfer regulations.
Yet the Judges said the current rules were “prohibited” under EU law and “anti-competitive” as they “limit the freedom of action” of players to change employer.
Read SunSport’s full Q&A with football on the brink of the biggest shake-up in 30 years…
