Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images
Nobody will ever mistake Erik ten Hag for a transfer wizard at Man Utd, but as Benjamin Sesko suffered his latest setback, one transfer target of the Dutchman sent a brutal reminder of his abilities.
From Antony and Andre Onana to Rasmus Hojlund and Mason Mount, Erik ten Hag presided over some of the worst transfer windows at Man Utd.
However, it sums up the club’s luck in the last decade or so that of all the targets put forward by Ten Hag, the one flying highest is the player United failed to sign.
As Benjamin Sesko missed the Fulham game due to a recurring injury, he sent a brutal reminder of his abilities, summing up the irony.
Brian Brobbey’s hat-trick puts Man City to the sword
Brian Brobbey is a name familiar to Man Utd fans, as he’s someone United have been linked to repeatedly, dating back to his days at Ajax.
After all, any Ajax player was automatically linked to Man Utd when Erik ten Hag was the manager, so Brobbey was no different.
However, contrary to many flimsy links, there was genuine interest in Brobbey’s services, even when he left Ajax, because his playing style and physicality were tailor-made for English football.
The move never happened, as Rasmus Hojlund was bought, followed by Benjamin Sesko, but Brobbey is outshining both of them after moving to Sunderland.
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On the same day that Man Utd looked toothless up front against Fulham due to Sesko missing out because of an injury setback, Brobbey hit City for three goals at the Etihad Stadium.
All of Brobbey’s traits which once inspired United’s interest in him – pace, power, and finishing – were on full display as the City defence was unable to cope with him.
Sunderland lost the game 5-3, but Brobbey continues to go from strength to strength after showing exciting glimpses last season as well.
This is a player who won’t stay at Sunderland for long if he keeps up this level of form, and when he leaves, United won’t be paying what they thought they would back in 2023 or 2024.
Considering Ineos’ lack of ambition, they will likely be outbid anyway, because Brobbey looks like a reliable 15 goals/season striker in the league now.
Players like those are worth their weight in gold. It would be foolish to assume that Brobbey would have been on exactly this trajectory had he joined Old Trafford under Ten Hag.
But that sums up the irony. Whoever doesn’t join this club ends up taking a leap in their career, and whoever does join has to likely leave and rebuild their career elsewhere.