There threatened to be late movement in Manchester United’s striker department on deadline day but the chance to secure their ideal addition passed weeks ago.
Manchester United are often accused of living in the past, but that might not have been such a bad thing this summer.
United considered drafting in a back-up option to Benjamin Sesko, though signing a striker was never particularly high on the transfer to-do list in a summer where overhauling the midfield was the priority.
Everton’s late move for Joshua Zirkzee on deadline day raised the question of whether United could make an 11th-hour approach for a replacement. Ultimately, United chose to keep the Dutchman at Old Trafford and Michael Carrick’s forward options went unchanged aside from the return of Marcus Rashford.
While United’s failure to add a left-back to their squad has dominated the grumbles from fans in the wake of the transfer window, not signing a back-up to Sesko hasn’t been far behind. The Slovenia international enjoyed a promising maiden campaign in English football, scoring 12 goals in 32 appearances. However, he has yet to start a game this season as he continues to work his way back to match fitness after injury, and the lack of a focal point without him in the team is clear for all to see.
Zirkzee has shown himself not to be at the level required to lead the line in Sesko’s absence, and while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha can play through the middle, both are better suited to roles behind the striker.
United clearly missed a trick when opting not to offer Danny Welbeck a return to Old Trafford.
Giving Welbeck the chance to return to his boyhood club at the age of 35 certainly wouldn’t have been a move fuelled purely by emotion. Welbeck scored 13 Premier League goals last season – more than any United player in 2025/26 – and has hit double figures in the last two Premier League seasons having failed to do so in his entire career until 2024/25.
It is therefore no surprise to see Chelsea lure him to Stamford Bridge. Xabi Alonso has been keen to add some experienced heads to his Chelsea squad, yet no signing has been made purely with off-the-field advantages in mind. At 36 and with a recent World Cup appearance under his belt, Jordan Henderson can clearly be relied upon when turned to, and Welbeck is no different.
United were crying out for an experienced forward to take some of the burden off Sesko this season. There could be more than 20 games added to United’s schedule this year compared to last, and asking Sesko to play the majority of them simply isn’t a viable option. Rotation will be needed, and United really should have added a recognised centre-forward to their squad.
Returning to Old Trafford would have been the cherry on the cake of what has been a great career for Welbeck, and he’d have given United what they needed to help Sesko in what will be a demanding campaign.
Instead of returning to his former club, Welbeck will come up against United when they travel to Chelsea on the other side of the international break. With eight goals against his boyhood club since leaving in 2015, you wouldn’t bet against him coming back to haunt United once again.
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