Former Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck could be on the move this summer after enjoying a brilliant season which saw him help Brighton qualify for Europe again
Rio Ferdinand has urged Danny Welbeck to snub Chelsea in favour of a sensational return to Manchester United. The United academy graduate is in dialogue with the Blues this summer as Xabi Alonso looks to bolster his attacking options at Stamford Bridge.
Our sister title football.london understands that club-to-club negotiations have begun between Chelsea and Brighton & Hove Albion, with a view to the centre-forward arriving in west London ahead of the new season. The 35-year-old rolled back the years with Brighton last term.
The former United and England striker bagged 14 goals and two assists across all competitions for Fabian Hurzeler’s men to help them qualify for the Europa Conference League. And despite Chelsea not being involved in any European competition next term, it is understood that personal terms will not be a problem and he could very well be pulling on a Blues jersey come August.
Thousands of Man United fans upgraded their matchday last season. This is how they did it.
Official premium experiences at Old Trafford are available now for the 26/27 Premier League season. Make it easier than ever to turn a regular fixture into something genuinely unforgettable.
The surprise developments on Monday have led to Ferdinand, who shared a dressing room with Welbeck at Old Trafford, to plead with United to step in. The former centre-back has pointed out that Michael Carrick’s side will be able to offer Champions League football – unlike Alonso’s team.
Posting on X, he said: “Welbs…. Ignore + come back home! Champions League football next season in Manchester.”
Welbeck made his Premier League debut for United as a 17-year-old, scoring in 2008 during Sir Alex Ferguson‘s tenure. After gaining experience during several loan stints, he was fully integrated into the first team under Ferguson and also bagged nine league goals from just 25 appearances during David Moyes’ single season at the helm.
The appointment of Louis van Gaal in the summer of 2014 signalled a new chapter for the club and it panned out better for some players than for others. While some of his colleagues thrived, it did not take long for Welbeck to realise that his future lay elsewhere.
The forward had grown frustrated during Moyes’ reign, frequently forced to play on the left wing where he didn’t feel he could show his best qualities. It soon also became clear that, were he to assume a central striker role under Van Gaal, it wouldn’t be as the manager’s top choice, having not been named in any of his first three starting line-ups in the league.
He went on to join Premier League rivals Arsenal in August 2014 where he scored 32 goals in 126 appearances – winning two FA Cups under the guidance of Arsene Wenger.
And Welbeck admitted in November 2014, via the Mirror, that his decision to leave United was one he had contemplated for at least 12 months before the move to north London happened.
FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FB PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page
He said: “When you’ve been somewhere for so long and then you’re going to start a new chapter in your career, you’ve got to think about it a lot. Over the past year or so, I started to think about what’s best for me.
“At the time I was playing on the left wing a lot and in a 4–4-2, which is very difficult for me because I can’t make an impact on the game. I can play it to the best of my ability but that’s not best for the team, and I could make a bigger impact playing in my preferred position.
“You start to have thoughts but at that time you’re still going to training and I was still giving 100 per cent and giving my all in every single game – that’s just me, I’m not going to change that. But you do start to think about what’s best for you.”
Welbeck went on to spend a season at Watford in 2019/20 before joining Brighton, where he has largely excelled ever since.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login