Sunderland must take controversial Brian Brobbey option ahead of January window

Sunderland's poor start has left them considering selling striker Brobbey to fund a new forward, with Spurs and Manchester United linked.

Sunderland are under pressure after a goalless draw with Leeds left them with just six Premier League goals this season—joint-lowest in the division. With manager Regis Le Bris facing scrutiny, the club must act decisively in January. Brobbey has scored only three of those six goals, all in a single defeat to Manchester City, and the team has now gone 356 minutes without a Premier League goal. While Brobbey has performed well since arriving in 2025, he is not considered a clinical enough finisher to be Sunderland's long-term solution. Former Sunderland and Tottenham scout Mick Brown suggested the club would accept a substantial offer for the 24-year-old Dutch striker if it allowed them to secure a higher-quality replacement. Spurs and Manchester United have both been linked with Brobbey in recent months. Sunderland's Europa League campaign is generating financial resources for the January window, but a significant portion will need to be invested in attacking reinforcements.