Bryan Mbeumo transfer update gives Manchester United a chance to prove they have changed

We've been here before with Manchester United.

The club are determined to make the 'United tax' a thing of the past, with sides eager to squeeze that extra few million out of United whenever they come calling.

And it's a problem United have brought on themselves. There have been countless examples of United refusing to meet a club's demands and eventually caving. No fan will ever be able to forget the Antony saga back in 2022. United refused to meet Ajax's valuation of the Brazilian, before returning to the table on deadline day and paying more than the Eredivisie outfit had demanded earlier in the window.

Then there was Rasmus Hojlund. United insisted they would not break the £60m barrier for the callow striker, yet Hojlund was soon pictured in a United shirt after Atalanta pocketed an initial £64m for their frontman, a fee that could rise to £72m.

Given United have previous for succumbing to selling clubs' demands, it's no surprise clubs feel emboldened to hold their nerve in transfer talks. But it's up to United to prove that times have changed.

The club are still in talks with Brentford over Bryan Mbeumo having seen a second bid rejected last week. A third bid could soon be submitted, but it's imperative United show they're no pushovers.

It must be added that the pursuit of Mbeumo is far more logical than the decisions to spend big on Antony and Hojlund. Neither Antony nor Hojlund were proven in the Premier League and splashing such vast amounts of cash on two young players who had never experienced English football was a disaster waiting to happen. Mbeumo has Premier League experience and his 20-goal haul in the league last season goes to show he is as close to a risk-free transfer as it's possible for a club of