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Brentford manager Thomas Frank has commented on the future of reported Arsenal transfer target Bryan Mbuemo ahead of their New Year's Day clash at the Gtech.
The Gunners are in the market for attacking reinforcements this winter, with the club desperately requiring alternatives in wide areas after Bukayo Saka underwent hamstring surgery at the end of 2024.
Saka tore his hamstring at Selhurst Park before Christmas and was initially expected to miss a couple of months, but some fear that Arsenal's superstar attacker will miss much of the remainder of the season.
His injury has been exacerbated by Raheem Sterling's knee issue which has kept him out since Boxing Day. Sterling has barely featured since joining the club on loan, but he was bound to enjoy an uptick in minutes after Saka succumbed in south London.
With Arsenal's current options not of the calibre to lift the club to the Premier League title, the Gunners are set to be aggressive in the January transfer window. However, it seems as if they'll be wasting their time by testing the waters for Mbeumo.
Thomas Frank rules out sale of Arsenal transfer target Bryan Mbeumo
Mbeumo has been impressively consistent since arriving in the Premier League with the Bees in 2021. The French-born forward starred in tandem with Ivan Toney during Brentford's first couple of years in the top-flight but has emerged as their main man over the past 18 months.
Now working in destructive tandem with Yoane Wissa, Mbeumo has scored ten league goals this term and recorded 55 goal contributions in 116 Premier League outings.
He's utterly pivotal for Frank's transition-heavy outfit, and the German has said his star attacker won't be going anywhere in January. Commenting on transfer talk surrounding the 25-year-old, the Brentford boss said ahead of Arsenal's visit on New Year's Day: "In January? I would say good luck.
"We love Bryan. He loves playing here. He has had a fantastic season, so nothing will happen,"
Mbeumo is the sort of profile Arsenal need to target in the winter to ensure they can keep pace with Liverpool at the Premier League's summit. However, with clubs more hesitant to part ways with their prized assets midway through the season, the Gunners are going to find it hard to acquire blue chip talent unless they overpay the odds.
Arsenal could do with upgrades or greater depth across their frontline.