Bryan Mbeumo and David Raya react to new Brentford exit announcement
Brentford have announced a brand-new transfer exit at the Gtech Community Stadium with past and present players reacting to the news.
The Bees were just nine points off qualifying for European football in the 2024/25 campaign, with Tottenham-linked Thomas Frank leading his side to 10th in the Premier League table.
Bryan Mbeumo, who could join Man United this summer, and Yoane Wissa played vital roles in their team’s achievements, joined by Kevin Schade and Mikkel Damsgaard in the final third.
However, with the Bees doing so well in the Premier League there is the potential for several big-name players to depart the Gtech Community Stadium, and that has already come to fruition days into the transfer window.
Brentford announce Mark Flekken’s exit
Taking to Instagram (3 June), the official club account: “Bedankt, Mark. We can confirm that Mark Flekken has completed a permanent move to Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee.
“Thank you for everything, and all the best for the future, Mark,” wi the post gaining likes from Mbeumo and Arsenal‘s David Raya, as fans flooded to wish the goalkeeper good luck.
As a replacement for the departing 31-year-old, the Bees have signed Caoimhin Kelleher on a five-year deal from Liverpool, much to the excitement of supporters.
Thomas Frank must replace big-name stars at the Gtech Community Stadium
Football Insider verdict
Losing Flekken just days into the summer transfer window is not the news that supporters would have wanted to hear, but signing Kelleher as a straight replacement will soften the blow immensely.
While the Republic of Ireland international has not been given a fair amount of game time at Liverpool, he has shown his capabilities in bursts, and the 26-year-old will be eager to impress.
Fans will expect a whole host of transfers to account for the potential losses of stars this summer, but the transfer window could be far more frustrating than anticipated for the Bees.
Football Insider understood in April that Brentford were ready to battle for Arsene Kouassi‘s signature this summer, with the left-back impressing for Ajaccio in Ligue 2.
There have been limited links with replacements for Mbeumo, however, who has been a key figure for Frank’s team over the last six seasons, notching 70 goals and 47 assists in 242 appearances.
Frank will be keen to hang on to as many of his creative stars as possible, but after a positive season in the Premier League, that might be much more difficult to manage.