Ajax striker Brian Brobbey comments on Manchester United speculation

Ajax striker Brian Brobbey has revealed that he will be staying with the Eredivisie club this month despite reported interest from Manchester United.

The Red Devils are understood to have held an interest in the 21-year-old ever since manager Erik ten Hag swapped Ajax for Old Trafford in the summer of 2022.

Recent reports have suggested that Ten Hag is keen to lure Brobbey to Man United this month, with both individuals said to have 'a high appreciation for each other'.

Ten Hag handed Brobbey his Ajax debut as an 18-year-old in October 2020, and the striker has since established himself as a first-team regular for the Dutch giants.

After scoring an impressive 80 goals in 100 youth appearances for Ajax between Under-17 and Under-19 level, Brobbey has since contributed with 42 goals and 11 assists in 102 senior games across all competitions.

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Brobbey is Ajax's top scorer so far this season with 15 goals in 26 matches, although the Amsterdam-based club have endured a difficult 2023-24 campaign and currently sit fifth in the Eredivisie table, 21 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven.

The one-cap Netherlands international still has over three years remaining on his contract at Ajax and has dismissed suggestions that he could leave the club in January, although he has refused to rule out a possible exit in the summer.

"I don't know anything, I've also seen it in the news. I'm staying in Amsterdam. Can they come back in the summer? Who knows," Brobbey told reporters as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.

"No, I have no contact with Erik. We used to text sometimes, but Erik has enough on his mind and I have a new number."

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Ajax manager John van't Schip has also addressed the future of Brobbey, who he values as a "very important" member of his first-team squad.

"As far as I'm concerned, Brian Brobbey is not for sale," Van't Schip told reporters after Brobbey scored twice in Ajax's 4-1 win over RKC Waalwijk on Sunday. "I actually have the 'not for sale' sign hanging around his neck.

"I don't think it would be useful if he left now. But who am I to say that? I actually think that we are now working on making this group as strong as possible and Brobbey is a very important player for that."

Brobbey is not the only Dutch striker believed to be on Man United's radar, as Ten Hag reportedly holds an interest in Bologna's Joshua Zirkzee, although the Italian club's president recently insisted that the 22-year-old will not be leaving in January.