The Black Cats are braced for extensive summer interest in a number of the players that have made such a positive impression since moving to Wearside in the last 12 months.
Robin Roefs, Nordi Mukiele and Noah Sadiki are all the subject of reported interest from elsewhere, with the Sunderland hierarchy having previously admitted that their player-trading model is at least partially reliant on being able to sell players at a profit in order to generate funds to reinvest in the squad.
Brobbey is the latest player to have been linked with a possible summer exit, with Bayern Munich reportedly strong admirers of the 24-year-old.
A senior scouting delegation from the reigning German champions is understood to have been tasked with assessing Brobbey, who has been a major success since joining Sunderland on deadline day in the summer.
The Black Cats moved for Brobbey when Marc Guiu was offered the chance to cut short his loan move and return to Chelsea, agreeing an initial €20m deal with Ajax that could eventually rise to €25m.
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It has been suggested that Bayern Munich could be willing to pay around double that for the striker, who is expected to be part of the Netherlands squad at this summer’s World Cup.
Brobbey has scored six goals in 25 games for Sunderland, but has caught the eye thanks to his physicality, aggression and ability to lead the line while linking effectively with those around him. He was the Man of the Match in last month’s Tyne-Wear derby victory over Newcastle United, scoring Sunderland’s last-minute winner, and impressed again in last weekend’s home win over Tottenham.
Brobbey was the subject of online racial abuse after that game, with Sunderland having issued a strongly-worded statement condemning the comments aimed at their centre-forward.
The Dutchman is an extremely popular figure within the dressing room at the Stadium of Light, and is known to be happy and settled on Wearside. However, Bayern Munich are one of the biggest clubs in Europe and will almost certainly be able to offer Champions League football next season. While Harry Kane remains Bayern’s number one striker, the Bundesliga leaders are understood to be keen to develop a succession plan for when the England captain eventually leaves the Allianz Arena.
The Sunderland hierarchy, led by director of football Florent Ghisolfi, could face some difficult decisions this summer. On the one hand, there will be an understandable reluctance to break up a squad that have performed so successfully this season. On the other, though, there will also be an acceptance that one or two big-money sales could ensure Sunderland do not encounter any PSR issues as they look to continue spending themselves in the next few transfer windows.