The veteran striker’s Brighton resurgence sparks interest from Stamford Bridge as Xabi Alonso seeks veteran experience to bolster an ambitious, high-stakes squad overhaul this summer transfer window.
Danny Welbeck has been linked with a move to... you guessed it! Chelsea.
The English striker has been reborn at the Amex since he arrived in 2020, and his goalscoring form last season, a stunning 13 Premier League goals, has been enough to wake up some of the big names again.
With a year remaining on his contract, Brighton do not want to stand in the striker's way as long as they get a fair price for his sale, according to Sky Sports.
From a fan perspective, there will be outrage, and rightly so. However, from a player's perspective, I can understand the desire for one last chance at a big club. Most importantly, a big payout before retirement!
With that said, Chelsea are already fairly well stocked up front. Depending on who they let go of - likely to be Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, and Emmanuel Emgeha - it could open up something of a pathway. João Pedro signed for Chelsea last season from the Seagulls for around £55 million, and has since become a key figure at Stamford Bridge. While it isn't a surprise that he has been successful, it is fair to suggest that Welbeck is a very different player.
If he isn't made to do too much running, he could be optimised at a team like Chelsea and especially under a head coach like Xabi Alonso. It is believed that the new Chelsea man is eager to add experience to his squad. Chelsea have no Europe to compete in next season, and it isn't unreasonable to suggest a title push for them next season.
Perhaps the one surprise is that the move to a bigger club isn't coming from Roberto De Zerbi's Tottenham.
Are Brighton Fans Frustrated?
With that said, fans are understandably frustrated. Before anything else, it is another experienced figure looking likely to leave the club this summer. Brighton have already lost the likes of James Milner, Andrew Crofts, Joel Veltman, Jan Paul Van Hecke, Adam Webster, and Solly March... quite a staggering number of senior departures from a squad point of view.
And then, of course, you factor in that it is yet another possible sale to Stamford Bridge. Fans are becoming frustrated with the transfer business between both clubs. It would raise the question of whether there is some form of agreement between all parties for it to consistently come up over the last four years. Surely Chelsea aren't actually obsessed with Brighton; it must be deeper rooted than that?
IF Welbeck is to leave, he would become the 16th player/staff member to make the switch. That isn't a normal number of transfers.
While Albion tend to get the better of Chelsea on the pitch, the question remains over the amount of experience lost this season, and whether the Seagulls are truly ready to compete at this level. A long summer transfer window remains, and Welbeck hasn't agreed anything... yet.
