Arsenal urged to consider move for Premier League striker | OneFootball

Brian Brobbey Transfer Talk Raises Fresh Questions for Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United

There are moments early in a season when one performance changes the tone of a wider transfer conversation. Brian Brobbey’s hat-trick at the Etihad has done exactly that. Sunderland still ended up on the wrong side of a 5-3 result against Manchester City, yet the discussion afterwards centred on the striker’s power, presence and whether clubs operating at the very top of the Premier League should now be paying closer attention.

According to Darren Lewis for talkSPORT, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are among the sides who should at least be considering the 24-year-old. It is not difficult to understand the logic. In a market where elite forwards are scarce and expensive, Brobbey offers a different profile, one built around physical dominance, hold-up play and the sort of penalty-box aggression that can shift a game even when service is limited.

Brobbey profile brings rare Premier League edge

Lewis described Brobbey in emphatic terms after reflecting on his displays for club and country, saying, “I watched him play in the Netherlands game vs Sweden at the World Cup. It was a fantastic example of terrific centre forward play. He was bullying centre-halves, latching onto balls from the wide areas. The way that [manager] Ronald Koeman played him was superb because he was just a one-man wrecking ball.”

That language captures what makes Brobbey stand out. He is not a striker whose game is built around finesse first. He works defenders physically, occupies both centre-backs and gives his team a reliable outlet under pressure. For coaches seeking a focal point, that remains hugely valuable. Sunderland have seen that first hand since signing him from Ajax in a £17m deal in 2025, and although his return of ten goals in 38 appearances is solid rather than spectacular, the broader impact appears to be shaping opinion.

Lewis went further, outlining where he believes Brobbey could fit. “I see him as an option at Liverpool… with his strength, but his vision and his ability to read the game so well. And to take advantage, latch onto one centre-half, then another. And just intimidate and frighten the life out of them. Man United could really do with somebody with that capability. I think Arsenal could [too], absolutely.”

Arsenal striker debate refuses to disappear

From an Arsenal perspective, this is where the conversation becomes interesting. The club only signed Viktor Gyokeres last summer, yet there is already scrutiny around how the centre-forward role is evolving under Mikel Arteta. Kai Havertz has again become a serious option through the middle, and that naturally leads to fresh examination of what the squad still lacks.

Brobbey would represent a very different solution. He looks more like a specialist reference point than a fluid all-round connector, and there is a case that certain matches, particularly against deep blocks or physical opponents, would benefit from exactly that kind of striker. Whether Arsenal would move so quickly after investing in Gyokeres is another matter entirely, but the tactical argument is there.

Liverpool and Manchester United face different striker needs

Liverpool’s situation appears less urgent on the surface. Alexander Isak has shown signs of rediscovering rhythm, while Hugo Ekitike is expected back later this year. Under Andoni Iraola, recruitment decisions are likely to revolve around tactical suitability and intensity as much as reputation. Brobbey’s ability to press, compete and pin defenders may well appeal, but Liverpool do not currently feel like a club under immediate pressure to add another No.9.

Manchester United are easier to place in this discussion. Their attacking structure still looks as though it needs a true focal point. Benjamin Sesko has yet to fully impose himself, Joshua Zirkzee remains inconsistent, and too much of the burden has fallen on others to patch the role. A striker who can occupy defenders properly and create better conditions for players around him could have obvious value. In that context, Brobbey’s profile makes practical sense.

Transfer value may hinge on goals return

Danny Murphy’s assessment adds another layer to the debate. He said, “He’s very old school and brilliant at what he does and we all love that because we all remember seeing players very much like him. He needs to keep scoring, of course, as a striker because if you’re not scoring, the rest of it’s irrelevant. But he’s not aesthetically pleasing to what most football fans or younger football fans are used to. The kids who grow up playing FIFA. The skills and the tricks and the flicks. I think that we’ve moved away a little bit from what’s effective and what’s good on the football pitch to what we like to see. I think the younger generation likes the player that might not score so much… might not hold the ball up all the time, but it’s just the way football is. I think if I was a player, if I was a midfielder playing with him [I’d love it]. So good!”

That feels important. Admiration for Brobbey’s style will only carry transfer speculation so far. If he keeps adding goals to the heavy lifting, the interest from Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United will become more credible. For now, the sense is that clubs will continue to monitor closely. The Etihad performance has placed him firmly on the radar.

Our View

As an Arsenal supporter, I am genuinely unsure on this one. You can absolutely see why Brian Brobbey would appeal. Arsenal do sometimes look like they need a striker who can rough up defenders, make life messy in the box and give the team a direct option when intricate build-up is not working. In certain Premier League games, that kind of presence can be priceless.

At the same time, there would be a lot of questions. Arsenal have already invested in Viktor Gyokeres, and it feels far too early to be talking about another major striker move unless the club is certain the current options are not right. There is also the issue of fit. Arteta usually asks for a forward who can combine cleanly, press intelligently and contribute to a very structured attacking system. Brobbey clearly has strengths, but would he suit Arsenal every week, or would he become a specialist option?

That is probably where many fans would land. He looks dangerous, honest and difficult to play against, and there is real value in that. But Arsenal do not simply need power, they need the right power. If Brobbey keeps scoring and keeps producing against top sides, the conversation will grow louder. Right now, he feels like a player worth watching closely rather than an obvious next move.