Who is Brian Brobbey? Man Utd boss Ten Hag eyeing another Eredivisie reunion

Manchester United have reportedly revived their interest in Brian Brobbey this month as they aim to strengthen their attacking options. Goal scoring has been a major problem for Erik ten Hag this season and only three clubs - Sheffield United, Burnley and Crystal Palace - have scored less in the league than United’s 24 goals.

The onus has firmly been on Rasmus Højlund’s shoulders following his €73.9 million move from Atalanta last summer but it’s proved to be a huge responsibility for the 20-year-old. Højlund failed to score in the Premier League until Boxing Day and United have targeted a new striker in January with Anthony Martial unreliable and destined to leave in the summer. FFP regulations are limiting United’s ability to spend this month with several experienced strikers - Karim Benzema, Timo Werner and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting - linked on loan deals but Brobbey’s was re-emerged as a tactic. 

Erik ten Hag’s previous relationship with Brobbey at Ajax

Ten Hag has been heavily criticised for his recruitment since joining United with many questioning his record of signing players that he’s worked with before or knows from the Eredivisie. André Onana, Antony and Lisandro Martínez all worked with the Dutchman at Ajax, while Christian Eriksen trained with the Amsterdam side when recovering from his cardiac arrest suffered in 2021. Tyrell Malacia, Sofyan Amrabaat, Wout Weghorst and Mason Mount all played in the Eredivisie but Ten Hag has rubbished claims that he prefers players that he knows well. 

However, Brobbey enjoyed a close relationship with Ten Hag at Ajax and United were interested in signing him from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2022 but he returned to Holland. "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." United have been strongly linked with moving for Brobbey this month but the striker has poured cold water on those reports, adding “I saw it on the news but I will stay in Amsterdam. I am not in contact with Erik ten Hag anymore,” he said. “We used to text through Whatsapp but I think Erik is busy. I have a new number as well, so…”

Brobbey’s impressive Ajax return after Bundesliga struggles

After emerging as a teenager at Ajax, Brobbey moved to RB Leipzig in July 2021 but he endured a dismal time in Germany. The Dutch striker failed to score a single goal or provide an assist in 14 games and he returned to Ajax on an initial loan before penning a permanent deal the following summer. Brobbey has reignited his career in his homeland and he scored 14 goals last season but he’s been in impressive form this campaign. The 21-year-old has netted 15 goals in 26 games including a double against RKC Waalwijk at the weekend and Kevin Lux, Transfermarkt's Dutch football expert admits Brobbey has changed perceptions since returning to Ajax.

"Brobbey is one of the most curious transfer stories of the past years in The Netherlands," Lux explained. "First, he left Ajax for Leipzig as a free transfer, because Ajax didn't put enough effort in giving him a new contract, but one year later, they bought him back for €16m, making him one of the most expensive players ever in the Eredivisie. In his first season, he was mostly used as a substitute or stand in. At Ajax, they thought he wasn't fit enough to play the full 90 minutes - one of the reasons they were doubtful on giving him a new contract in the first place. Pundits were all over the Amsterdam club for paying that amount of money for a player that they found, couldn't even play a full match and they weren't sure about in the first place. But that was two years ago."

"The past two seasons, Brobbey has got better and better. He developed himself in a more complete forward, fitting into the playing style that Ajax wants to see from their centre forwards. Previously, he was mostly about physique and scoring goals, but now he brings more to the table. He is the centre piece of every attack and more and more evolves around him. His goal average is also picking up fast. In the past 10 matches, he was involved in a goal in every match and scoring 10 goals himself (also providing four assists). If he can keep this pace up, the Eredivisie soon might have four strikers in the top of the European goal scoring lists."

How much is Brian Brobbey worth? 

Brobbey’s current market value sits at €15m, which is slightly less than the €16.35m Ajax paid to re-sign him from RB Leipzig. Brobbey’s valuation rose dramatically after making his professional debut for Ajax but it stagnated after his move to RB Leipzig. The striker’s valuation dropped for the first time in his career at the end of last season but it increased again following his impressive season to its record-high. Ajax’s struggles this season are well-documented but Brobbey has been their shining light and they’ll be reluctant to sell him again unless it’s a substantial fee.