Ajax have placed striker Brian Brobbey in the shop window this summer, and although the Dutchman rejected a move to Serie A last month, Atalanta have not given up hope of luring him to Italy.
Is Brian Brobbey Leaving Ajax?
Coming off the back of a goal-laden 2023-24 campaign, Brian Brobbey entered last season as a beacon of hope for Ajax’s fresh-faced renaissance.
Fast-forward to now, and Brobbey’s career in Amsterdam is in serious doubt, having managed just six goals and as many assists across the campaign — a steep drop off from the season prior, where he racked up 33 goal involvements.
Ajax’s stagnating project has been underlined by struggling individual performances, which ultimately saw them relinquish a nine-point lead with five games remaining, at which point offshore sportsbooks gave them a 99% chance of winning the Eredivisie.
That has left Brobbey assessing his options this summer, and the decision to change agents earlier in the window suggests he is inviting potential suitors.
The Premier League has long been an enticing prospect for the 23-year-old, who has commanded the attention of West Ham in particular in recent seasons. Their need for a goalscorer is more pertinent than most, but interest has seemingly died down this summer.
So far, the only club to send any proposals his way have been free-spending Como, who were exploring a more youthful striking option, before eventually landing on veteran Alvaro Morata.
Brobbey rejected Como’s approach, in what he perceived to be a step down in his career, but interest elsewhere in Serie A is still very much alive.
Atalanta Interested in Brobbey
Ajax are keen to find a resolution to Brobbey’s situation, with the club under no illusions that his desires lie elsewhere.
His club-leading salary puts considerable strain on their finances at present, and they feel his dip in form last term doesn’t warrant his current deal.
Although Como’s ambitious project wasn’t enough to sway Brobbey, fellow Serie A side Atalanta hope their ability to offer Champions League soccer, and a competitive new direction under Ivan Juric will be reason to turn his head.
La Dea’s transfer policy is largely centred around investing in young, high-potential market opportunities — maybe even perhaps players who have already demonstrated their abilities in the past, but who also may have experienced a rough patch.
Brobbey fits that billing, although Atalanta’s pursuit rests on their ability to sell Ademola Lookman to Inter Milan, which looks set to happen in the coming weeks.
Brobbey would likely be available for a fee in the region of $25 million, which Atalanta see as a worthwhile investment, as they look to replace Lookman’s goalscoring ability with a recognized marksman.
