Danny Welbeck to Chelsea deal leaves Gary Neville fuming with Man Utd

Chelsea are closing in on a move for former Manchester United and Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck.

Chelsea’s move for Danny Welbeck has left Gary Neville comdemning Manchester United for deciding to sell the striker 12 years ago. Welbeck is expected to complete a move to Stamford Bridge from Brighton and Hove Albion.

The striker was a product of Man United’s academy, making his debut in 2008. After 29 goals in 142 first team appearances he was sold to Arsenal in 2014 for £16 million.

Welbeck remained with the Gunners for five years, scoring 32 goals in 126 appearances. He left Arsenal in 2019. signing for Watford, before moving to the Amex Stadium in 2020.

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His consistent contribution in front of goal for the Seagulls across six seasons in the top flight has caught Chelsea’s attention as they look to bolster their ranks with more seasoned professionals.

The mounting speculation surrounding Welbeck’s potential move to Stamford Bridge has prompted calls for United to enter the race. However, Neville has taken a more retrospective view of the situation.

Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “I said ten years ago that Manchester United should never have sold Danny Welbeck. He’s gone away and done brilliantly well.

“He’s coming into a little cameo at the end of his career, but he’s a fantastic player. I worked with him obviously as a team-mate, I worked with him with England as a coach and he was fantastic for England.

“And he’s been good in the Premier League as well. It’s a good move for Chelsea and it gives them a real option up front.”

Alongside Welbeck, Chelsea appear to be closing in on a deal for former Liverpool midfielder Jordan Henderson, with Brentford confirming his departure on a free transfer.

Neville has shed light on why both signings will prove beneficial to United’s Premier League rivals. “They’re still good players, they can contribute maybe 25 to 35 games a season at a good level,” he said.

“But what they will do is all those young players there at Chelsea, they will make sure they turn up every single day, give their all, come back the same the next day and do it again.

“That’s been a problem. I don’t think the young players at Chelsea have had any particular guidance or leadership around them either on the pitch or off the pitch.

“They’ve now got people around them who can do that and know how to get around the block.”

While United finished last season in the Champions League places, Chelsea find themselves in the midst of a rebuilding project under new boss Xabi Alonso, having failed to qualify for European competition altogether in the previous campaign.

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