Erik ten Hag's secret phone call after Man Utd plea to ramp up transfer business

Manchester United have emerged as contenders to sign striker Brian Brobbey from RB Leipzig this summer.

Erik ten Hag is on the lookout for more attacking firepower after the news that Cristiano Ronaldo wants to leave United after just one season while Edinson Cavani was among a glut of first-team exits this summer upon the expiration of his contract at Old Trafford.

Ajax forward Antony is said to be among the leading transfer targets for Ten Hag who is keen to reunite with the 22-year-old with the Brazilian telling the Dutch giants that he wants the club to consider allowing him to make the switch to United this summer to be reunited with Ten Hag.

It has now emerged that Ten Hag has held phone calls with Brobbey this summer, with RB Leipzig open to cashing-in on the striker for as little as £12.8million (€15m). The 20-year-old has endured a difficult time at the German club, whom he joined in 2021 but made just 14 first-team appearances - in which he did not find the back of the net.

Brobbey returned to Ajax on a six-month loan spell without an option to buy in January as he was reunited with Ten Hag. The young striker bagged seven goals in 13 appearances in that spell despite picking up a medial collateral ligament knee injury.

Ajax were heavily fancied to buy the striker back from RB Leipzig on a permanent deal this summer but a report in Bild now claims that United are also monitoring Brobbey's situation. Indeed, it is claimed that Ten Hag has already held several phone calls with the striker with the view to a possible move.

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The report also highlights how Brobbey joked after being asked for comment after Ten Hag's appointment at Old Trafford earlier this year: "I'm very happy for him - if he brings me to Manchester in two years!"

Ten Hag has also held a phone call with Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong in which he convinced the player of his significance to his plans at Old Trafford. The midfielder was told he would be the 'conductor of the orchestra' and would be an undisputed starter under Ten Hag - a similar role to the one he enjoyed so much in Amsterdam.

United's move that could take Brobbey away from Ajax would be a similar tactic to the one that saw them land their one and so far only transfer of the summer, signing Tyrell Malacia from Feyenoord after an agreement had been struck for him to join Lyon.