Ajax forward Brian Brobbey has reignited his links to Manchester United with a remarkable declaration - just days after the summer transfer window slammed shut.
The 20-year-old was one of many players on Erik ten Hag's radar over the last few months after scoring seven goals in 11 Eredivisie appearances under his fellow Dutchman last campaign. Brobbey spent the second half of the season on loan with Ajax, who opted to permanently buy him from RB Leipzig for £15million in July, just one year after he left the Amsterdam giants for Germany.
Ten Hag set about raiding his former club during the summer window, with Antony following Lisandro Martinez to Old Trafford on deadline day. The Red Devils were also linked with Jurrien Timber and Brobbey, but the latter explained that he preferred to stay put at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
"I absolutely wanted to go to Ajax. Erik also wanted to work with me, texted once if I was open to it, but I thanked him nicely," he told Voetbal International after sealing his transfer from Leipzig. "I wanted to go back. My friends here, Ajax's playing style, it just wasn't finished yet.
"I first have to really succeed here as a striker of Ajax. That's also how the past six months felt, when I played here on a rental basis. I really had the feeling afterwards: I really have to go back. Believe me, in a few years I will provide a nice transfer fee for Ajax and then the club will have made a nice profit."
As Brobbey alluded to, he has already thought about a high-profile exit despite the upheaval he has experienced over the last 14 months. In fresh development, he has dropped a clear hint that he would like to pull on a Red Devils shirt one day by naming United as a club he would like to play for during an interview with ESPN, per Voetbal International.
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He said: "Dream club? Manchester United. Erik sent me a message, yes, to congratulate me, and to tell me that he would like to have me at Manchester United. But I'm not finished at Ajax yet, I want to show something here first."
Brobbey has had a brilliant start to the season, scoring two goals and registering two assists in the opening five games of the Eredivisie campaign. Ajax have won each of those fixtures to get off to the perfect start in their defence of the league title Ten Hag led them to last season.
Brobbey will have a chance to shine on the big stage as Ajax take on Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday evening. The Dutch champions are in Group A, so they will also face off with Liverpool and Napoli.
