Manchester United interested in signing Ajax striker Brian Brobbey
According to a report from The Sun, Manchester United are battling with Arsenal for Ajax striker Brian Brobbey.
Brain Brobbey re-signed for Ajax from RB Leipzig in 2022 and has since managed to score consistently in the Eredivisie. After bagging 13 goals in 32 league games during the 2022/23 campaign, the two-cap Netherlands international netted 18 goals in 30 appearances in the Eredivisie this past season, thereby, attracting Manchester United and Arsenal’s attention. Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk was full of praise for his compatriot back in 2022. Here is what he had to say – “I think he’s a great boy. He is a great talent and basically has everything. He is fast, strong and can finish well. He can be a very good weapon [for the World Cup], but it’s up to the national coach.”
The aforementioned report claims Ajax could allow the 22-year-old to leave for around £30million this summer. Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag knows Brobbey very well having managed him at Ajax and wants to bring him to Old Trafford. However, his side faces competition from Arsenal for the young striker, who is currently part of the Netherlands’ squad that has reached the 2024 Euros semi-finals.
Following Anthony Martial’s release upon the expiry of his contract last month, the Red Devils are in the market for a striker. Rasmus Hojlund enjoyed a decent debut campaign at Old Trafford but he is very young and cannot single-handedly shoulder the burden of leading the attack for Erik ten Hag’s side. In addition, the Mancunian heavyweights struggled for goals this past season, managing only 57 goals in 38 Premier League games.
This has further accentuated the club’s need for a new striker. To bolster their striker options ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Man United are understood to be going in for Bologna star Joshua Zirkzee. Having already agreed personal terms with Zirkzee, they are now planning to either trigger the centre-forward’s €40m clause or negotiate fresh terms with Bologna.
This suggests Zirkzee, who is also part of the Netherlands squad at the 2024 Euros, is close to joining Man United. Should he join, the club must refrain from going for another striker—supposedly Brobbey.
There is no doubting Brobbey’s goalscoring ability and potential, as we’ve witnessed in the Eredivisie, but the Red Devils are unlikely to have a place for him in the squad following the potential acquisition of his compatriot Zirkzee.
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Moreover, Ten Hag and INEOS also have other areas to strengthen in this transfer window, especially in central defence. So, the club needs sufficient funds to address different areas of the squad before the 2024/25 kicks off.
That said, we must avoid going in for Brobbey as a deal for Zirkzee nears its completion.
