Manchester United have tried to free up wages to open up the option of a transfer move in January, most prominently by loaning out Jadon Sancho to Borussia Dortmund, with hopes that the move will help them reclaim some of his value in a future sale. It now appears that Erik ten Hag’s side are planning a surprise move for Ajax striker Brian Brobbey.
Manchester United Planning Brian Brobbey Signing
Could Erik ten Hag’s Sign Brobbey In January?
Sky Sports’ Florian Plettenberg claims that the Dutch manager is interested in signing Brobbey in the winter window to potentially strengthen his forward line at Old Trafford and ease the pressure on 20-year-old Rasmus Hojlund. The journalist added that both the Red Devils and the Ghana striker have a “high appreciation for each other” and that they had made contact to express interest in a move last summer last summer.
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Plettenberg further claims that if United are unable to get a move done in the January window, they plan to make a move for the Dutch prospect Ajax are not believed to be interested in a sale, although their dismal start to the season could persuade the 21-year-old to push for a move. United are also understood to have Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee on their transfer wishlist for the summer window.
🆕🔴 News #Brobbey: Understand that Ten Hag has the idea to sign Brobbey in winter!
➡️ Brobbey and ManUtd, it was a hot topic last summer. The contact never broke off
➡️ Both have a high appreciation for each other.At the latest in the next summer window, a transfer will be… pic.twitter.com/1TraZGnsoy
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) January 20, 2024
Brian Brobbey Has Discussed Previous Manchester United Talks With Media
The 21-year-old forward has been one of Ajax’s best players this season and scored 13 goals as well as picking up four assists in 25 appearances for the club. Incidentally, he actually spoke about how close he came to a switch to Old Trafford last summer and Ten Hag’s attempts to convince him to join the club from RB Leipzig.
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In an interview with Der Telegraaf, Brobbey said: “Erik ten Hag called me and said that at United, my agent would get millions of euros and I could earn a multiple of my Ajax salary. But our decision was clear: we wanted to go to Ajax. Manchester United wanted to have me, but I insisted on returning to Ajax.
To make that possible, my agent Jose Fortes Rodriguez even waived a hefty percentage of the sell-on clause.” Liverpool and Netherlands captain Virgil Van Djik has praised for being a “fast and strong” player who “finishes well”. While the forward is open to a move to Old Trafford, it remains to be seen if Manchester United could persuade Ajax to let him go without a hefty payment this window.