Long-term Manchester United target Brian Brobbey is available for just €25-30 million this summer with Ajax open to selling the 22-year-old striker.
The Red Devils have been constantly linked with the Dutchman over the past two years, owing to Erik ten Hag’s admiration of the forward.
In Ten Hag’s first summer at the helm at Old Trafford, Brobbey revealed the former Ajax manager personally contacted him over WhatsApp to try and convince the 22-year-old to follow in his footsteps to Manchester.
Brobbey refused Ten Hag’s advances as he was solely focused on succeeding upon his return to Amsterdam, having previously departed Ajax, whom he joined as a 10 year old having grown up in the Dutch capital, to join RB Leipzig in 2021.
The links between the Red Devils and the striker then resurfaced in January of this year with United in desperate need of reinforcements up front.
A long-term injury to Anthony Martial and the off-the-field struggles of Marcus Rashford had left Rasmus Hojlund as the only fit/functioning striker at Old Trafford; a burden far too great on the then 20-year-old Dane in his first season in English football.
Ten Hag spoke publicly of the need for a new number nine to help buttress his misfiring forward line but the club’s financial position was too restricted to enable a move, owing to the pressure of the Premier League’s Profits and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
No striker was signed and United finished the season in 8th place with a negative goal difference.
INEOS, who gained full control over the football operation at Old Trafford in February, have remedied to improve this area of the pitch by prioritising a pursuit of Joshua Zirzkee.
The Dutch international, 23, was signed earlier this month from Bologna in a deal worth in excess of £35 million to help provide support to Hojlund. Zirkzee’s versatility – capable of playing up front or as a number ten or on the wing – will help him serve as a complement to, rather than replacement for, the Danish striker.
However, reports had suggested INEOS were still interested in another striker with the memory of United only scoring 57 league goals still fresh in the mind of the club’s new rulers.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin (Everton) and Ivan Toney (Brentford) are mooted as players of interest but both are likely to prove too costly for United’s budget this summer. As such, the prospect of a long-term target in a position of need, like Brobbey, available at a price of around £23 million may be a tempting one to Old Trafford officials.
Florian Plettenberg (Sky Sports) reveals the Dutch striker “could leave Ajax” this summer with “many enquiries” lodged over a transfer.
🚨🟠 Brian #Brobbey could leave @AFCAjax already this summer!
22 y/o striker has received many inquiries. AS Roma are monitoring his situation.
… but Brobbey is also keen to play Premier League next season. Contract valid until 2027.
Price valuation: €25-30m.… pic.com/6RsactZGfP
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) July 23, 2024
Tweet: “Brian #Brobbey could leave @AFCAjax already this summer! 22 y/o striker has received many inquiries. AS Roma are monitoring his situation…but Brobbey is also keen to play Premier League next season. Contract valid until 2027. Price valuation: €25-30m. @SkySportDe”
If United are looking for a quick fix in a position of need who is already highly-rated by their manager, they need to look no further than Brian Brobbey. They may just have to move quickly and decisively to ensure they’re not beaten to his signature.
