No need to sell: Sunderland set £50m bar for Brian Brobbey
Manchester United have been given an indication of what it might cost to sign Brian Brobbey in January, with Sunderland reportedly valuing the striker at around £50 million.
Dean Jones, writing via Flashscore, reports that Sunderland would value Brobbey at around £50 million and, more importantly, are not operating from a position where they need to sell. That last part matters: United are said to be keeping tabs on the striker market, but there is no suggestion of a concrete approach at this stage.
Why United could revisit the striker market
Manchester United committed £73.7 million to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško in 2025, but that outlay may not be the end of their spending up front. The Red Devils arguably should have replaced Joshua Zirkzee with a proper number nine last summer, as an alternative to Šeško, only for a concrete offer for the Dutchman to arrive too late in the window for INEOS to line up a replacement.
Come January, Everton or another of Zirkzee’s suitors could return for him, and United would need to know who replaces him. Brobbey has been on the rise at Sunderland and has caught the eye against both Arsenal and Manchester City this season, though question marks remain over how he picks things up again after returning from injury.
Brobbey’s reported price by the numbers
| Reported Valuation | Contract Until | Recent Form | Sunderland Stance |
|---|---|---|---|
| £50m | 2029 | Hat-trick vs Man City | No need to sell |
That £50 million figure would put Brobbey in similar territory to other forwards United have had valuations reported for this year, and if his hot streak continues, there is every chance Sunderland’s number climbs rather than falls before January arrives.
Sunderland show no urgency to sell
Sunderland’s leverage is the key detail here. They are not short of options and are not being forced into a sale, which leaves United with a decision to make about how far they are willing to go for a striker who is still proving himself after injury.
United have also been credited with interest in other forward options, including a recent enquiry over a rival striker target, suggesting Brobbey is one name among several being weighed up rather than a done deal in waiting. Whether that £50 million figure becomes a genuine negotiating point will depend on Brobbey’s form, Zirkzee’s situation, and whether United actually move beyond monitoring the situation.
