Sunderland have been linked with four players worth a combined £80m ahead of the transfer window
Ronald Koeman is said to be tracking Sunderland striker Brian Brobbey closely after his recent displays
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman is keeping a close eye on Sunderland forward Brian Brobbey as the race for World Cup places begins to take shape, according to reports in Holland.
Journalist Hans Kraay Junior, speaking via Dutch media, claims Koeman is continuing to track Brobbey’s progress in the Premier League following his summer move from Ajax. The Sunderland striker is reportedly viewed as a potential contender for a place in next year’s World Cup squad – although he faces strong competition. Emmanuel Emegha, currently impressing with Strasbourg, was brought into the Dutch squad for this international window and featured from the bench against Poland and Lithuania. His rise has put him firmly in contention for a spot on the plane next summer.
Brobbey, meanwhile, has been working to rebuild his reputation after a difficult spell at Ajax. His performances on Wearside – including his dramatic late equaliser in the 2–2 draw with Arsenal – have begun to shift opinions back home as he adapts to life in the Premier League. The 22-year-old has already made eight senior appearances for the Netherlands, all under Koeman, having debuted for his country in 2023. And despite Emegha’s growing profile, Kraay Junior says Koeman continues to follow Brobbey closely.
“I’ve secretly heard from Koeman that he’s keeping an eye on him (Brobbey),” he said. “But that he won’t immediately go on a rampage just because he scored the 2–2 for Sunderland against Arsenal. Koeman keeps an eye on everything, he keeps an eye on Brobbey. But Emegha has something different. Weghorst, Brobbey, and Memphis don’t have the depth of Emegha. Whether he’s refined enough, I can’t judge.”
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Brobbey’s move to Sunderland in the summer raised eyebrows in the Netherlands, with some questioning whether the Premier League would suit him. But his early contributions under Régis Le Bris – including his physical presence, improved link play and important goals – have helped shift the narrative, with Koeman now among those monitoring his progress closely. The Sunderland striker returns to club action after the international break as Le Bris’ side prepare for a trip to Fulham before hosting Bournemouth at the Stadium of Light.
After bursting through at Jong Ajax with 16 goals in 32 games, he moved between Ajax and RB Leipzig before fully establishing himself in Amsterdam. His 2022–24 seasons were his real breakout – scoring 31 Eredivisie goals across two campaigns and adding six more in Europe. By the time he left Ajax, he had 44 goals in 131 appearances for the senior side. A summer switch to Sunderland in 2025 offered a fresh start, and he has already begun making an impact in the Premier League.
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