The game-changing £14m signing that will supercharge Man Utd's top four bid if they act fast

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. In that sense, maybe Manchester United are a little bit crazy... Crazy about signing just one more Ajax player to finally tip the scales of misfortune in Erik ten Hag's favour!

After staring intensely into Lisandro Martinez's eyes until any memories of Donny van de Beek and Antony are scrubbed clean from his burnished dome, the Dutch manager and his Old Trafford superiors have decided that it is about time they dipped their burnt fingers into the Eredivisie market once more. This month, the object of their affections is Brian Brobbey, a wonderfully alliterative talent who has impressed immensely during the first half of the campaign.

Just 21 years of age, the forward has scored 14 goals across 26 outings in all competitions this term, and has been a rare and consistent bright spark in a season that has felt grim enough for Jordan Henderson's unexpected arrival to be treated like The Second Coming. It remains to be seen whether he can bring Amsterdam's drug usage under control in much the same way he solved the Middle East's LGBTQ+ crisis.

Anyways, according to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, United are considering a January raid for Brobbey, having first toyed with the idea during the summer transfer window. It is understood that the two parties have a 'high appreciation for each other', and that they have remained in contact following initial talks last year. For their part, and somewhat understandably, Ajax are quite unwilling to sell in the coming weeks - although there is a suggestion that United could be willing to bide their time and complete a deal at the end of the season if absolutely necessary.

Ideally, though, the Red Devils would like to bring in Brobbey as soon as possible, and for good reason. So far this season, Rasmus Hojlund has returned just two goals in 16 Premier League outings, while Marcus Rashford has just four in 20. Anthony Martial, by comparison, has started appearing on the side of milk cartons in the Greater Manchester area.

In other words, attacking reinforcements are desperately needed at Old Trafford, and Brobbey, on the face of it, looks to be a good fit for Ten Hag's project. The versatile forward has been hugely impactful since completing a £14 million move to Ajax in 2022, and is capable of operating anywhere across a frontline as and when required. Blisteringly quick and physically imposing, he is as effective playing on the shoulder of the last defender as he is holding the ball up and acting as a traditional target man.

What's more, the striker has jokingly opened the door to a move to Old Trafford in the past too. Speaking shortly after Ten Hag was given the job in 2022, the young forward said: "I am very happy for him and he really deserves it after everything he has done for Ajax. If only he brings me with him in two years... no, no... joking, joking!" Many a true word said in jest.

Of course, when it comes to signing players from the Netherlands, United have been stung before. The step up from the Eredivisie to the Premier League is a notable one, and not an adjustment that every talent is capable of making. Just because others have failed, however, does not necessarily mean that Brobbey would too.

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. But maybe this time things would be different...