Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has reportedly instructed the club to move for RB Leipzig forward Brian Brobbey during this summer's transfer window.
The 20-year-old spent the second half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Ajax, finding the back of the net on seven occasions in 13 appearances in all competitions.
The Dutch champions are believed to have the option to purchase Brobbey on a full-time basis this summer, but according to Bild, Man United are now firmly in the picture for his signature.
The report claims that Ten Hag has already spoken to the youngster about a move to England, and Leipzig are open to selling him during this summer's transfer window.
Brobbey's asking price is said to be in the region of €15m (£12.7m), which makes him an even more attractive proposition for Man United, who do not have an unlimited budget this summer following their failure to qualify for the 2022-23 Champions League.
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Brobbey initially joined Ajax in 2010, processing through the Dutch side's youth system before making his first-team debut in October 2020.
The forward scored six times in 19 appearances for the Amsterdam giants during the 2020-21 campaign before moving on to Leipzig, but he has found it difficult to make his mark in Germany.
Brobbey is yet to find the back of the net in 13 appearances for his current side, but he returned to Ajax on loan last December and scored seven times in 11 Eredivisie outings to help Ten Hag's team win the title.
The youngster also boasts an impressive scoring record for Netherlands Under-21s, finding the back of the net on six occasions in 12 appearances for the national side.
Man United are in desperate need of attacking reinforcements this summer, with Edinson Cavani, Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata leaving the club on free transfers at the end of last month.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is also pushing to leave Man United, but the club continue to insist that the Portugal international will not be allowed to depart the 20-time English champions in the current market.
Ten Hag is allegedly considering giving Anthony Martial the chance to prove himself as a centre-forward during the club's pre-season tour, while Marcus Rashford is another option in that area of the field.
Ronaldo was due to return to pre-season training at Carrington on Monday, but he has been absent this week due to a personal issue and will not fly with the squad to Thailand on Friday.
New arrival Tyrell Malacia will be on the plane, but Christian Eriksen will not be involved in the first leg of the tour, as the Denmark international has not yet completed a medical.
Man United's first friendly of the summer will be against Liverpool on July 12, while they will also take on Melbourne Victory, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano this summer as part of their preparations for the 2022-23 Premier League campaign.
Matt Law
