Thomas Frank sends message to Arsenal over Bryan Mbeumo transfer this January

Arsenal have been credited with a strong interest in Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo (Picture: Getty)

Brentford head coach Thomas Frank has shut down speculation linking Bryan Mbeumo with a big-money move to Arsenal this January.

Mbeumo has enjoyed an excellent start to the Premier League season, racking up 13 goals and three assists for the tenth-placed Bees.

Only Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Alexander Isak and Cole Palmer have outscored Mbeumo in the English top flight this term, with the 25-year-old currently level with Nottingham Forest’s Chris Wood.

Many of Brentford rivals are crying out for a forward of Mbeumo’s quality for the second half of the campaign and recent reports claimed Arsenal were exploring a possible bid for the Cameroon international.

Arsenal opted not to sign a proven goalscorer in the summer transfer window and it appears to have cost the Gunners, with Gabriel Jesus’ season-ending injury only compounding Mikel Arteta’s problems up front.

But Brentford are determined to keep hold of star man Mbeumo and Frank made his feelings clear on the recent rumours while facing the media after his side’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

Asked whether there was a chance Mbeumo could leave Brentford before the January transfer deadline, Frank bluntly replied: ‘No. So, very easy to answer that question!’

The Cameroon forward has scored 13 goals in the league this season (Picture: Getty)

Frank was delighted with Brentford’s resilient display against the champions, with his side coming back from two goals down to rescue a point.

‘I’m extremely happy with the whole performance. This is the first time we managed to go, more or less, toe to toe with one of the best teams in the world,’ he explained.

‘I know they are not up to full pace but they still produce unbelievable moments of brilliance like their first goal.

‘I saw a City team that gave everything, worked extremely hard, and the way we played, how brave we were in phase one, how we played out of the pressure quite a few times, the aggression, the bravery, our low block, our counters, I loved everything about our team performance.

A last-gasp Norgaard goal denied champions City of all three points (Picture: Getty)

‘That makes me extremely happy so it’s not like we only defended for 80 minutes and then came back in the last ten.

‘I think it’s more than a deserved point and I actually think we scored first.

‘We lacked that final cutting edge before the 1-0 goal but we definitely showed that for the last two goals and, of course, the last ten minutes… fantastic mentality.’

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Mbeumo is not the only Premier League forward to be linked with Arsenal this month, with Newcastle’s Alexander Isak believed to be at the top of the Gunners’ wishlist.

But it’s understood it would take an offer in excess of £150million to prise Isak away from St James’ Park and Eddie Howe has repeatedly encouraged the Swede to block out the outside noise.

Asked whether Isak is currently the most sought-after striker in Europe after Newcastle’s 3-0 defeat of Wolves, Howe told TNT Sport: ‘Everyone tells me he is, everyone tells me he is! But I think he’s enjoying his football.

‘We’re loving having him here, we love working with him. All I would urge him to do is focus on the next game.’

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