Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag ‘sent desperate text’ to Brian Brobbey

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Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag reportedly sent Ajax star Brian Brobbey a ‘text in vain’ as he tried to convince the forward to join the club in the summer. The United manager spent much of the transfer window trying to add to his attacking options and is said to have considered the Dutchman before eventually moving for his club colleague Antony. 

Brobbey is a player who is very familiar to Ten Hag having come through the Ajax academy before breaking into the first team in 2020. He was sold to RB Leipzig in the summer of 2021, but the move did not work out and he returned to the Eredivisie champions on loan six months later, before making the move permanent earlier this year. 

Ten Hag was keen to add to United’s attacking options during the course of the summer months, particularly after Cristiano Ronaldo’s transfer request put his future at the club in doubt. His top target was Ajax star Antony, who he eventually signed in the final days of the window, but it appears he also had his eye on some of the club mates as the deal for the Brazilian faced difficulties.

Dutch publication Algemeen Dagblad reports that Ten Hag tried to approach Brobbey in order to strengthen the club’s strike force, with the 52-year-old sending him a ‘text in vain’ to try and convince him to come to the club. 

However, the striker had been told by new Ajax coach Alfred Schreuder that he would be the Amsterdam’s side main man in attack, something that would not be the case at Old Trafford. 

As it turns out, the 20-year-old has not had this opportunity during the current campaign. His record domestically has been very respectable, scoring four times and contributing a further two assists in nine league games. However, he is yet to start a game in the Champions League, falling behind Mohammed Kudus in the pecking order for the biggest games. 

Meanwhile, United have been encouraged to add to their attacking options again next summer by former Arsenal star Nigel Winterburn, who suggests they need someone new to score at least 20 goals a year. 

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“I would be amazed if they haven’t got somebody for the start of next season,” Winterburn told Paddy Power. “They have to have someone that will score a minimum of 20 goals a season in the Premier League. If not, they need two scoring up to 18 goals each. But I’d be amazed if they didn’t bring someone in for the start of next season.”

Only time will tell if Ten Hag will resurrect his interest in Brobbey in transfer windows to come but it appears likely the Red Devils will once again look to strength in attacking areas in the near future. 

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