Usually, when it comes to African players in the Premier League, one name always tops the list – Mohamed Salah. The Egyptian international is delivering stunning performances year in and year out even at the age of 32. This season has only started but it already looks like he is about to get the same great statistical numbers he gets every season. He played in nine Premier League games so far and scored six goals along with five assists (last two seasons he finished with 18 and 19 goals), but so far, there is another African who is better than him – Bryan Mbeumo. The Cameroonian winger is currently in fantastic form and that is why he has become a target for Newcastle United in the upcoming January transfer window.🚨𝐍𝐄𝐖: A right winger is considered the priority in January at #nufc with Bryan Mbeumo a big target. That is unlikely to happen in January though, as is any renewed interest in Marc Guehi and Anthony Elanga. [@MsiDouglas]❗️🇨🇲 pic.twitter.com/0fLxLnUCVM— Newcastle Updates (@nufcupdates9) October 24, 2024 Mbeumo signed for Brentford from Troyes in 2019 for only 3.5 million euros and played for the Bees in the Championship before they moved to the Premier League. This season he exploded as he already scored eight goals after only nine matches, which is two more than Salah and as many as he scored in the last two seasons. And the Magpies need a proper right wingers so this looks like a match made in heaven. But, the problem could be the money. Even if it looks funny, the richest club in world doesn‘t have enough funds to buy Mbuemo. The reason is simple – the famous PCR rules were made when Newcastle was bought by PIF just so the Saudi Arabia‘s fund couldn‘t invest loads of money into the club. And it works. Newcastle can rely only on revenue, which is not enough, so if they want to buy Mbeumo in January, they will have to sell some big name star in June 2025. The Cameroonian is worth around 40 million euros, but Brentford could ask for more come January, especially if he continues to play like that.Gordon extends Newcastle contract – aiming for trophy successThe problem with the Magpies is that they need another center half and if they fork out 40+ million for Mbeumo, there will be no money for another defender. And if they spend money on the defender, then they will have no money for the Cameroonian winger. Newcastle was forced to sell wingers Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Nottingham Forest and Brighton respectively, to avoid a PSR breach in June this year, but if they spend a lot of money, in June 2025 bigger names will need to be sold. Will it be Anthony Gordon (who just signed an extension), or Bruno Guimaraes (who just became captain) or even Alexander Isak? Those are the only players who can command such a high transfer fee, and yet they are the corner stone of the new Newcastle team. They could have got the money from the senior stars with big wages like Kieran Trippier and Callum Wilson (who has started two games in 2024), but there were no serious bids and that ships has sailed now. So, if Mbeumo continues to play like this, Eddie Howe and the sporting director Paul Mitchell will have a tough decision to make.EFL CUP – ROUND 4TuesdaySouthampton – Stoke 3-2 (2-1)/Harwood-Bellis 19, Armstrong 35 pen, Bree 88 – Phillips 45, Cannon 54/Brentford – Sheffield Wednesday 5-4 on pen (1-1)/Schade 11 – Gassama 57/Wednesday 22.30: (3.40) Brighton (3.50) Liverpool (2.10)22.45: (1.83) Aston Villa (3.50) Crystal Palace (4.50)22.45: (1.30) Man.Utd. (5.80) Leicester (9.00)22.45: (2.65) Newcastle (3.60) Chelsea (2.70)22.45: (9.00) Preston (5.80) Arsenal (1.30)23.15: (2.70) Tottenham (3.45) Man.City (2.55)***odds are subject to change***
