Thomas Frank makes Bryan Mbeumo prediction as Brentford boss delivers verdict on transfer speculation | OneFootball

Mbeumo looking to join Ivan Toney in reaching the mark for the Bees

Landmark: Thomas Frank has backed Bryan Mbeumo to reach 20 Premier League goals

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Thomas Frank believes Bryan Mbeumo will score at least twice in Brentford’s final five matches of the season to become a 20-goal Premier League forward.

The Cameroon international is the Bees’ top scorer this season with 18 goals in 33 league games.

Mbeumo needs just two more goals to have produced only Brentford’s second-ever 20-goal Premier League season. The only player to have so far reached that landmark is Ivan Toney, who scored 20 in the 2022/23 league campaign.

The emergence of the 25-year-old as one of the league's most prolific forwards in recent years has seen Mbeumo linked with a number of top clubs, including Arsenal and Newcastle, and he could be sold in the summer.

Asked whether he expects Mbeumo to reach 20 goals next month, Frank replied: “I really hope so, because, again, that would be fantastic for him and fantastic for us.

“I think he will. I am comfortable he will reach the goal. But he needs to do it. We need to do it.”

Frank was also asked whether achieving that feat would increase Mbeumo’s market value.

“I think it’s pretty high, no matter what, if I’m honest,” Frank said. “But, as you know, he’s very happy here at Brentford!”

Thomas Frank is confident Bryan Mbeumo is happy at Brentford

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The Bees visit Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Thursday night, but midfielder Vitaly Janelt is out for the season after undergoing surgery on a heel injury which has been managed by the club’s medical staff throughout the season.

“It was something where Vitaly and me [agreed] the timing was probably right, right now,” Frank said.

“Vitaly has been carrying this season for basically the whole season and had done so well to manage it, making himself available.

“It has probably limited him a little bit from top performances, but hopefully that can get him back early next season. Vitaly has been a key player since he came.”

Left-back Aaron Hickey and striker Igor Thiago have been in full training for two weeks but are unavailable against Forest.

Frank said they will “hopefully” make appearances before the end of the season.

“Fingers crossed for that,” he said. “When they are training in full with the team, they are definitely close. How close, we will see in the next one-to-two weeks.”