Erik ten Hag failed in his pursuit of a star forward, whose revealed that he texted him about a move to Manchester United.
The Dutch boss is eyeing a new forward before the transfer window slams shut.
He's keeping tabs on Antony and it appears the Brazilian isn't the only Ajax player Ten Hag wanted at Old Trafford.
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That's because Brian Brobbey has claimed the Man United manager wanted to snap him up this summer before the player signed for the Eredivisie outfit.
The 20-year-old starred on loan at Ajax last season, scoring seven league goals in just 11 games.
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His performances alerted the 52-year-old who texted the budding forward about a switch to the Premier League side.
But Brobbey turned down Ten Hag's advances as he wanted to go back to Ajax.
Speaking to Voetbal International, he said: "I absolutely wanted to go to Ajax. Erik also wanted to work with me, texted once if I was open to it, but I thanked him nicely. I wanted to go back [to Ajax]. My friends here, Ajax's playing style, it just wasn't finished yet.
"I first have to really succeed here as a striker of Ajax. That's also how the past six months felt, when I played here on a rental basis. I really had the feeling afterwards: I really have to go back.
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"Believe me, in a few years I will provide a nice transfer fee for Ajax and then the club will have made a nice profit.
"There are more good players who play striker: Dusan Tadic, Steven Bergwijn, Davy Klaassen, Lorenzo Lucca. At the moment I am a basic player, but I just have to perform, with good play and goals. Then the trainer can't ignore me and I start in the team."
Ten Hag was hoping to reunite with Brobbey at Man United following a campaign together at Ajax last season.
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But he was unable to lure him to Manchester, with Ten Hag still on the hunt for another forward before deadline day.
Topics: Football, Manchester United, Erik Ten Hag