‘He fights you’ – Big Six clubs told to sign underrated £17m Premier League striker

Danny Murphy is a huge fan of Brian Brobbey, and he believes one of the so-called ‘Big Six’ should make a move.

Sunderland picked up Brobbey late in the transfer window last summer, the Dutch striker arriving in a £17million deal from Ajax.

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The 24-year-old played a huge role in the Black Cats reaching the Europa League for the first time in their history.

No one came in for him during the summer, but Murphy feels that should change in the next window.

Speaking on Kick Off with Adrian Durham and Darren Lewis, he said: “I am going to go out there on a limb here.

“One of the big boys should get Brobbey. He would score a bagful in a top side.

“His all round play is so good. I love strikers like him because he holds it up so well, and he’s game, and he runs the channels.

“He harasses people, and he fights you.

“If he had real top quality around him, servicing him, I think he could be…”

Lewis then added: “I don’t think you are out on a limb with that.

“Brobbey’s performance against Sweden in the World Cup with the service from wide areas.

“And you wouldn’t buy him as your main striker…”

Murphy disagreed, responding: “You could. When you think of the failures there have been over the years. Chelsea haven’t had a proper number nine in a while until Joao Pedro.”

Lewis continued his praise for Brobbey: “Brobbey is more physical than Pedro. Pedro is more mobile, but Brobbey is more physical.

“He’s good in the air, but he’s also good on the deck when you get the ball in from the wide areas.”

Brobbey’s impact

In terms of goals, Brobbey grabbed seven in the Premier League last year. One of those was a winner in the Tyne-Wear derby in stoppage time against Newcastle at St James’ Park.

That is a moment that will endear him to Sunderland fans forever, but he is so much more than goals.

As Murphy mentions, the forward is a real handful and the physical nature of his game is one of the reasons Sunderland were so good last year. However, it’s very unlikely that Sunderland would be open to a sale.

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Italian side Como were interested in a late move for Brobbey, but the answer was an emphatic no.

He is yet to get off the mark this term for the Black Cats, but with the club about to embark on a European campaign, he’s going to get plenty of games.