When Bryan Mbeumo joined Manchester United last summer, he once affirmed that his spirit would "always be better than yesterday". However, after an impressive start at Old Trafford, the £71 million contract is gradually stalling, causing many fans to question its true value.
Although still the top scorer for Man United in the Premier League this season with 9 goals, Mbeumo's form has recently declined significantly. The Cameroonian striker has not scored since the match against Tottenham Hotspur on February 7, and has not had any goals or assists in the past two months.
Before the upcoming clash with his old team Brentford, the wave of opinions from fans is increasing, calling on coach Michael Carrick to consider removing Mbeumo from the starting lineup.
After the 4-2 victory over Brighton, Mbeumo was praised as the best signing of the season at that time. And this assessment is not easily refuted. When working with Ruben Amorim, he was described as a machine, bringing a clear change to Man United's attack. Mbeumo was both a fulcrum for long passes and a fast attacking spearhead, ready to exploit the space behind the defense with sprints and finishes.
However, his development momentum was interrupted when he attended AFCON in December last year. During his absence, Amorim was sacked, forcing Mbeumo to start over under Carrick.
Mbeumo has not scored in the last 8 matches, including 7 starts. He once assisted Benjamin Sesko to score against West Ham United and Everton, but has no longer contributed to any goals in the last 6 appearances.
The decline is not only in scoring. In the unforgettable 1-2 defeat to Newcastle United when the team was only 10, Mbeumo disappointed with the only shot that went over the crossbar.
In the 2-2 draw at Bournemouth, he did not have a shot on target, with the only effort being blocked. The same scenario repeated when Man United came back against Crystal Palace.
In the match against Chelsea last weekend, the Cameroonian striker continued to have no shots on target. However, he is not an isolated case, as the match was only decided by Matheus Cunha's only shot, bringing a 1-0 victory for the away team.
Mbeumo's decline in form has not affected Man United's results too much, as the team has won 8/12 matches since Carrick replaced Amorim. However, in the last 8 matches since Mbeumo's last goal, the "Red Devils" have only won 4 matches.
Man United enters the confrontation against Brentford with an 8-point gap over Brighton (ranked sixth) in the race for the top 5 and a UEFA Champions League spot. A victory at Old Trafford could help them almost complete the goal of the season.
However, Mbeumo's title of best summer signing quickly faded. Right at Old Trafford, he is also struggling to maintain his position. Meanwhile, Senne Lammens emerged as a more deserving candidate, especially when he only spent 18 million pounds from Royal Antwerp.
Even, Mbeumo may no longer be the best striker that Man United recruited last summer. Benjamin Sesko has caught up with him to become the club's top scorer, with 4 goals since Mbeumo's last goal, even though he only started about half of the matches.
Carrick's lack of decisiveness in choosing a center forward is part of the reason for Mbeumo's decline. Since pairing with Sesko, Mbeumo's performance has decreased significantly. He has not even had a single shot on target in 4 matches when he was pushed to the right wing - a role far different from the Amorim era, when he coordinated well with Amad Diallo.
Now, that connection has turned into direct competition. Amad made a strong impression when coming on as a substitute against Chelsea, after being a rare bright spot in the defeat against Leeds United - a match where Mbeumo had to be a substitute due to not fully recovering from his injury.
Pressure is weighing heavily on Mbeumo. He is forced to regain his form and cannot prolong his goalless streak. If he does not score in the last 5 matches, this striker risks closing the season with a worse record than Rasmus Hojlund in the first season - a worrying sign for the future.
Mbeumo needs to return to his own philosophy - always better than yesterday. Otherwise, his dream at Man United could soon go astray.
