Man United wanted to re-sign 35-year-old forward this summer | OneFootball

Danny Welbeck: Manchester United’s Almost Return

Laurie Whitwell of The Athletic has revealed fascinating insight into Manchester United’s summer transfer deliberations, where a familiar name emerged unexpectedly — Danny Welbeck. Amid the headline-grabbing pursuits of Benjamin Šeško and Rasmus Højlund’s departure, United briefly considered bringing back their former academy graduate.

United’s Transfer Calculations

The article details how Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s football hierarchy, with Omar Berrada, Jason Wilcox, and Rúben Amorim at the helm, approached the market with cold calculation. While Rasmus Højlund wanted to fight for his place, the club opted to move him on. “My plan is very clear and that is for me to stay and fight for my spot,” Højlund declared, yet the decision had already been made.

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Amid these reshuffles, Welbeck’s name resurfaced. According to Whitwell, “United explored conditions for bringing Danny Welbeck back.” He was Brighton’s joint-top scorer in the Premier League last season with ten goals and offered not just experience but also heritage, having spent 16 years at Old Trafford.

Welbeck as a Strategic Option

United reportedly considered offering Welbeck a contract until 2027, though discussions never advanced. Ratcliffe, mindful of age, preferred a one-year deal with an option, knowing Welbeck turns 35 in November. Still, the thought of reuniting with a player who understands the club’s DNA was serious enough to warrant boardroom conversations.

Whitwell added: “United felt he would add experience, technical quality, and heritage to the squad after spending 16 years at Old Trafford.” In many ways, Welbeck represented the balance United sought: Premier League-proven, affordable, and emotionally resonant with fans.

Welbeck’s Brighton Contentment

While United weighed up their options, Welbeck himself expressed happiness at Brighton in a recent interview. That satisfaction, coupled with United’s push for younger strikers like Šeško, ultimately ended any hopes of a return. But the idea itself reflects the ongoing challenge of blending experience with long-term planning.

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For many Manchester United fans, the idea of Danny Welbeck returning would have carried a strong emotional pull. Here is a player who came through the academy, scored memorable goals — including that header against Real Madrid in the Champions League — and epitomised the hard-working ethos fans demand. To hear that United “explored conditions for bringing Danny Welbeck back” taps directly into nostalgia.

However, opinion would likely be split. On one hand, Welbeck’s ten goals for Brighton last season prove he remains a reliable Premier League striker, even in his mid-thirties. He would have brought depth, experience, and perhaps the kind of leadership lacking in United’s dressing room. Supporters frustrated by high-spending gambles might have welcomed the low-cost pragmatism.

On the other hand, concerns over fitness and longevity cannot be ignored. United’s issues in recent years have often been linked to short-term fixes rather than long-term planning. Ratcliffe’s hesitancy over a two-year deal shows the dilemma: respect for Welbeck’s pedigree, but realism about his age.

Fans may ultimately conclude that while Welbeck would have been a feel-good story, United need to focus on future-building. Sentimentality cannot outweigh the demand for a reliable, long-term No. 9. Still, many will reflect on what might have been, had “Welbz” returned home to Old Trafford.