Much of the summer’s biggest Premier League news has covered departures from Brentford, not least that of beloved manager Thomas Frank. And with less than three weeks to go until the new Premier League season begins, new head coach Keith Andrews has a huge amount of work to do to mould together a squad which can compete in the top-flight.
Since promotion four seasons ago, the Bees have settled nicely as a lower mid-table side and perennial underdogs, but the latest SBOTOP odds suggest this upcoming campaign could be their toughest yet. Brentford have been selling their crown jewels, recouping almost £100 million in player sales so far this summer, with the departure of star forward Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, keeper Mark Flekken to Bayer Leverkusen, and experienced midfielder Christian Norgaard to Arsenal.
It will be difficult to replace the 20 goals of Mbeumo, and another 19 registered last season may be at risk as his strike partner Yoanne Wissa is also agitating for a move, with Newcastle United the most interested party. The Bees’ ownership has steadfastly refused to sell their 28-year-old DR Congo star, who has been at the club since 2021, scoring 45 goals in 137 appearances. But there must be a case for selling a player who wants away, particularly as last season was by far his best.
But again, time is of the essence here, and Brentford can’t afford to delay before selling at the last minute and then struggling to get in a replacement.
According to the Premier League 2025 updates, Magpies lodged a bid of £25 million for Wissa, which was immediately dismissed by Brentford, and they were discouraged from upping the figure by the Bees’ stance. But the UK press reported on Sunday that the player has threatened to refuse to play for the club again unless a move to Newcastle is sanctioned. It’s a totally unhelpful position for the West London side and needs to be resolved quickly. And it seems they have already fallen foul of the way they dealt with the sale of Mbeumo, which apparently left Manchester United furious.
The Red Devils’ leadership were annoyed that Brentford seemingly touted their player to Tottenham, Newcastle United, Arsenal, and Chelsea, while Mbeumo was close to joining Manchester United, and it seems they are about to take some revenge by signing Metz star Idrissa Gueye from under the noses of the Bees. Burnley and Brentford were the two clubs linked to the 18-year-old, who has already picked up his first full cap for Senegal.
The French side is asking for €15 million, and Brentford will have to move quickly if they are to beat the Clarets, and more likely the Red Devils, to his signature. Meanwhile, the three newly promoted teams, Leeds United, Burnley, and Sunderland, are all very active in the market. Outside the three newcomers, Brentford, alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers, are the favourites to go down according to the latest Premier League 2025 betting odds. So, who has come in to join the Bees so far?
Goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has joined from Liverpool for a fee of £18 million as a replacement for Flekken, while former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has arrived on a free from Ajax after a stint in the Saudi Pro League.
Brentford need more bodies in and, the longer the clock keeps ticking, the more urgent it becomes.
A baptism of fire for Andrews
The appointment of Keith Andrews as head coach raised a few eyebrows in West London and beyond, as this will be his first job as a gaffer, and it happens to be in the toughest league in the world.
In a 16-year playing career, Andrews started as a defencive midfielder with Wolverhampton Wanderers, and he played for 12 different clubs, MK Dons twice, as well as representing the Republic of Ireland 35 times, scoring three goals. Now 44 years of age, Andrews was a popular pundit on TV in England, covering games from the Championship and League One while honing his coaching skills with MK Dons and Ireland U21s before joining Chris Wilder at Sheffield United.
Andrews was appointed set-piece coach at Brentford in 2023. After the departure of Frank, he was given the nod for the top job. An opening match away to Nottingham Forest is a tricky start, and it will be fascinating to see how the two teams measure up. Then the Bees host Aston Villa before making a must-not-lose trip to Sunderland. August will be some month for Andrews and his new Brentford.
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