Manchester United are reportedly keeping a close eye on Dutch striker Brian Brobbey. According to sources, United manager Erik ten Hag has been interested in signing Brobbey since his time at former club Ajax. However, despite the club’s inquiries about the player’s availability, a January deal seems unlikely due to financial constraints.
Brobbey has been performing remarkably well for Ajax this season, scoring 15 goals. With United in need of additional cover up front, he could provide valuable support to Rasmus Højlund and Marcus Rashford. It was initially believed that Anthony Martial, who is currently managing a hip injury, might leave the club in January. However, recent reports suggest that he is set to stay, despite the club’s willingness to listen to offers.
Following Ajax’s 4-1 victory over RKC Waalwijk, Brobbey addressed the rumors of a possible move to United in a post-match news conference. In a surprising turn of events, he played down the speculation, stating, “I’ll just stay in Amsterdam. I think Erik [ten Hag] has someone else on his mind now. I also have a different telephone number.”
These comments from Brobbey cast doubt on the likelihood of a transfer in January. While United remain open to signings if the right opportunity arises, their priority in this transfer window is easing their financial concerns ahead of the summer.
To address their financial situation, Manchester United have already sanctioned several outgoings, including Jadon Sancho, Donny van de Beek, Sergio Reguilón, Hannibal Mejbri, Álvaro Fernández, Joe Hugill, and Mateo Mejia. Furthermore, with Martial expected to depart on a free transfer in the summer, United are actively exploring the option of adding another forward to their squad.
Hence, the pursuit of Brian Brobbey is likely to feature in United’s discussions, especially if Erik ten Hag, who has shown a keen interest in the player, remains as manager. Additionally, the recent major appointment of Omar Berrada as the club’s CEO further indicates United’s ambitions for the future. Berrada, formerly the chief football operations officer at Manchester City, brings valuable expertise to the club.
Alongside the managerial and administrative changes, United’s future outlook is set to be influenced by the impending takeover led by Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his company, INEOS. Ratcliffe, a British billionaire, has recently acquired a 25% stake in the club. While the Premier League is yet to ratify the deal, it is expected to receive approval, allowing the INEOS-led consortium to officially commence its work in February.
Considering these developments, it appears that Manchester United’s interest in Brian Brobbey is part of a larger strategic plan to strengthen the squad and improve financial stability. However, the January transfer window might not be the ideal time to finalize the deal due to current financial constraints. Nonetheless, if circumstances permit, Brobbey’s arrival at Old Trafford could be a possibility in the near future.