‘You don’t always’ - Premier League defenders told how to cope with Sunderland star Brian Brobbey

One of the Dutch football’s most highly-rated defenders has told Premier League centre-backs how they must deal with the power and strength of Sunderland star Brian Brobbey.

The former Ajax striker has caught the eye with his powerful presence at the top end of the pitch throughout his time at the Stadium of Light and has become a key feature of Regis Le Bris’ side as Sunderland secured a seventh placed finish and landed a place in this season’s Europa League.

Brobbey’s performances have reportedly drawn interest from other clubs across the Premier League and in Serie A - but he has now committed his long-term future to Sunderland by penning a new deal that could keep him on Wearside until the summer of 2031. That means defenders across the top flight of English football will have to contend with Brobbey’s threat for a number of years to come as he looks to build upon what has been an impressive first 12 months at the Stadium of Light.

Ajax’s teenage defender Aaron Bouwman, who has been compared to Liverpool centre-back Virgil Van Dijk in recent months, has referenced how to deal with Brobbey after briefly training alongside the striker during his time with the Dutch giants when he was asked about current team-mate Tolu Arokodare.

He told NU: "In training sometimes long balls are played and I stand on him. They are fun duels, we both go hard into them. Tolu is a very good player and a really nice guy. He always smiles and brings good energy to the team. I sometimes boss him too, occasionally.

“He also says how he finds it annoying to be defended as a striker. With him you don't always have to enter the duel, but sometimes stay away. The same goes for Brian Brobbey. Defenders in the Premier League are participating in his game. But Brian lightly holds a defender with one arm and then turns away. As a defender, sometimes you have to wait for your moment.”

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