Man Utd ‘Seriously Considered’ Signing Shock Former Player This Summer
Man Utd ‘Seriously Considered’ Signing Shock Former Player This Summer.
A new report has revealed that Manchester United explored bringing back a former Red Devil in the recently closed transfer window. Ruben Amorim’s side finished their business with the third-highest net spend in the Premier League, recruiting the likes of Diego Leon, Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Senne Lammens as they look to improve on a dismal 2024/25 campaign.
All of these arrivals fit the profile of young, hungry players with potential which is the exact type United have prioritised since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and INEOS assumed control. However, one ex-star who doesn’t fit that mould was surprisingly close to making a return to Old Trafford after years away.
United Attempts to Sign Former Striker
While the Red Devils were at one point rumoured to be looking at bringing back former goalkeeper David de Gea after his unceremonious departure in 2023, The Athletic have claimed that academy graduate and Brighton frontman Danny Welbeck was another who was on the agenda.
Welbeck enjoyed his best ever Premier League season during the 2024/25 campaign, hitting double figures for the first time at the grand age of 34. And his renaissance, combined with the financially appealing deal, made United take a closer look at bringing him back to the club, much like they did with Jonny Evans two seasons ago.
The Athletic state that after realising a deal for Liam Delap was likely off the table after they didn’t receive much warmth from the player towards the idea of joining the club due to his previous allegiances with Manchester City, it was decided that they were going to look for a secondary striker, with Welbeck the top of the wishlist.
The club believed that the experience he would bring, combined with his history at Old Trafford from the youth ranks all the way to the senior squad and his technical ability, made him an appealing option.
Erik ten Hag had held an interest in Welbeck the year prior as he looked to fill a similar role, but the ongoing restructuring of the football club prevented that from happening.
The Red Devils reportedly considered putting together a two-year proposal to Welbeck, but in the end it was Ratcliffe who voiced his concerns about handing such a deal to a player who would be 37 by the time it expired. Instead, a one-year deal with an option year was internally discussed should a fee with Brighton be negotiated, but nothing was ever formalised, with the veteran staying put on the south coast.