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Manchester United reportedly gave severe consideration to re-signing their former academy star Danny Welbeck final season as a alternative for Anthony Martial.
Then supervisor Erik ten Hag was particularly supportive of bringing Welbeck back, given the participant’s ties to the membership and his efficiency in opposition to United in current Premier League conferences.
Welbeck, born in Manchester’s Longsight space, joined United’s academy at age 11 and went on to make 142 appearances earlier than shifting to Arsenal in 2014.
His potential return held a romantic enchantment, rekindling the native connection and fervour he had for the membership in his youth.
United’s curiosity in Welbeck was first sparked by his standout efficiency in opposition to them throughout Ten Hag’s Premier League debut match in 2022, the place Welbeck’s help and relentless motion helped Brighton safe a 2-1 win.
The veteran ahead continued to impress in opposition to his former membership, netting the opening purpose in Brighton’s 3-1 victory at Outdated Trafford in September 2023.
Welbeck demonstrated his high quality, not solely scoring but in addition contributing to the build-up play, highlighting the attributes that would have made him a beneficial addition to United’s roster.
Regardless of his age—he was 33 on the time—Welbeck’s potential arrival got here at a minimal monetary danger as his contract with Brighton was nearing its finish, that means United might have acquired him on a free switch.
His skilled way of life and expertise have been additionally famous as property that would profit the squad, significantly as he maintained a few of the highest bodily efficiency scores at Brighton.
However, no formal supply materialized.
United’s managerial uncertainties, compounded by an ongoing reorganization round Ten Hag, made the membership reluctant to behave decisively within the switch market.
Moreover, former Brighton technical director Dan Ashworth, who had overseen Welbeck’s transfer to Brighton in 2020, was not but accessible to contribute to United’s recruitment because of contractual obligations along with his earlier employers, Newcastle United.
Welbeck, in the meantime, was content material at Brighton and selected to signal a two-year contract extension after the January switch window closed.
