Manchester United target Brian Brobbey has shattered a 50-year-old record with the Premier League-linked striker’s outstanding form continuing at Dutch giants Ajax.
Eyebrows were raised when reports emerged before Christmas suggesting that Manchester United could renew their interest in a striker who rebuffed the Red Devils’ advances in 2022 – Erik ten Hag’s record when it comes to signing players he knows from the Eredivisie is patchy to say the least – but Brian Brobbey’s stunning run of form in recent weeks is going a long way to offsetting the concerns that he may be more Antony than Lisandro Martinez.
With an assist in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with runaway Eredivisie leaders PSV Eindhoven, Brobbey extended a run of 12-consecutive games in which he has either scored a goal or set one up for an Ajax team-mate.
One-time Watford winger Steven Berghuis this time the beneficiary of his ever-improving decision-making in the final third.
Brobbey shattered a 50-year-old record in the process. A record that was, until last weekend, owned by an Ajax icon of the 1970s, Ruud Geels.
Brian Brobbey justifying Manchester United links
“I didn’t exist then, dude!,” Brobbey smiles when informed of his history-making exploits by ESPN. “Okay, (first Ruud Geels), now Brian Brobbey, right?”
Brobbey, who’s fearsome physical strength has drawn comparisons with the likes of Didier Drogba, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Romelu Lukaku, now has 17 goals and five assists this term, with the majority of those coming since the start of November.
“He is, of course, incredibly fast and strong,” former Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman says of a man who may just find himself leading the line for the Oranje during this summer’s European Championships.
“(Brobbey’s qualities) are great.”
Likened to Lukaku and Ibrahimovic
Whether Man United seriously renew their interest is likely to depend, of course, on the whims of their new sporting director, whoever that may be. Erik ten Hag, who won two Eredivisie titles alongside Brobbey at Ajax, is likely to see his influence over the recruitment department limited by the appointment of, for example, a Dan Asworth and/or a Paul Mitchell.
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