Brentford's Mbeumo closes in on Man United switch but can he end Cameroonian curse in M16?

By Alessandro Schiavone

Man United have not really had any luck with Cameroonian players thus far.

They have had two and none of them pulled up any trees.

If Eric Djemba-Djemba hardly lived up to expectations after joining from FC Nantes in 2003, André Onana has by all means been an unmitigated disaster.

Branded the 'worst keeper in history' by ex-Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matic, the £43.5m signing from Inter Milan has at times looked like prime Peter Schmeichel. But more often than not like Mark Bosnich.

Not the only culprit but one of the reasons why Man United have fallen off a cliff, Onana has served up a litany of blunders over the last two years which tainted his reputation.

Linked with AS Monaco though Onana may not even be around by the time Brentford superstar Bryan Mbeumo puts pen to paper at Old Trafford.

Man United chiefs are confident that they can see the deal home after submitting a £60m bid for the Cameroon winger who scored 20 Premier League goals at Brentford last season.

Mbeumo's exit is likely to be the fourth big summer heartache in the last six years for dejected Bees supporters. Neal Maupay led the way after transfering to Brighton & Hove in Albion in 2019 before Said Benrahma crossed the London divide a year later for West Ham. While Ivan Toney opted for generational wealth in Saudi less than a year ago.

How Bees fans wish a calendar year only had 10 months and no summer transfer window at all as the ex-Troyes winger is tipped to move on to pastures new in the coming days.

But can Mbeumo succeed where his more famous countrymen flopped?