Premier League giants Manchester United are reportedly in contact with RB Leipzig forward Brian Brobbey, with Erik ten Hag calling the Dutch attacker.
According to The Times, Manchester United are prepared to hijack Ajax’s move for centre-forward Brian Brobbey. The 20-year-old joined RB Leipzig just last summer from Ajax, but has not been impressive in Germany, with the Bundesliga club now ready to offload him this year.
The 20-year-old is an Ajax youth product and made his first-team debut for the Dutch club in the 2020/21 season. However, Brobbey could not manage to cement a starting spot and subsequently moved to the Bundesliga in the 2021 summer transfer window on a free transfer.
But his spell in Germany has been a failure as he has failed to score even once in 13 appearances for RB Leipzig across all competitions and returned to Ajax on a six-month loan for the second half of the recently-concluded season.
Brobbey flourished under ten Hag, scoring seven goals in 11 Eredivisie appearances to help the club win the Eredivisie title. He is now eager on returning to Amsterdam, with Ajax considering re-signing the Dutch under-21 international as well.
The centre-forward recently told Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, “I told [Leipzig] that I would prefer staying with Ajax.” This more or less confirms his Leipzig exit but his next destination is still unclear.
Manchester United were recently made aware of Cristiano Ronaldo’s desire to leave the club this summer. The Portuguese international is said to be frustrated with the club’s inactivity in the transfer market, on top of their failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, and is seeking an exit now.
This has left Manchester United scampering to quickly search for a replacement. They are in negotiations for signings in other positions as well after signing Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord. But with Ronaldo’s departure, signing a centre-forward has become one of their priorities.
Erik ten Hag has contacted Brobbey personally, as a result, to explore the possibility of signing the striker this summer. The Dutch tactician is keen to reunite with the youngster, who Bundesliga outfit RB Leipzig could make available for £13 million. Meanwhile, the Red Devils are ready to sell Ronaldo this summer.
