The former Manchester United striker drew attention during the Seagulls’ surprise victory at Old Trafford on the opening weekend of the new season.
Rio Ferdinand has suggested that Manchester United look to one of their former players to solve their attacking problems after a disastrous start to the 2022-23 season. The former United defender, like many others at Old Trafford on Sunday, was impressed by Brighton’s Danny Welbeck’s performance as the visitors won 2-1.
And Ferdinand now believes the Seagulls forward can make an impact as a foil for Cristiano Ronaldo.
What has Ferdinand said about Man Utd re-signing Welbeck?
Welbeck scored 29 goals in 142 appearances during his six-year spell in United’s senior ranks before joining Arsenal in 2014, and has spent the last two years of his career at Brighton.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ferdinand said of a potential return to Old Trafford for his old team-mate: “Danny Welbeck starts for Man United today [Sunday] in this game.
“Welbeck walked out of that tunnel and you could see, shoulders back, chest out, thinking – ‘I will terrorize these two [Martinez and Maguire]’.
“That’s how he played today, he looked like prime-time Danny Welbeck at the Bernabeu against Real Madrid 10 years ago.
Leading the charge. 🔥 @DannyWelbeck 🔋 pic.twitter.com/aOmdB16bnP
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) August 8, 2022
“On today’s performance, no doubt. If you want a back-up striker, you wouldn’t go far wrong with Danny Welbeck.
“Say to him, ‘you’re going to play 15/20 games over the season, fill in for Cristiano’. It gives us the legs, gives us the movement – the running behind defenders like he did today and it frees up the space for the likes of Bruno [Fernandes].”
Who else is on Man Utd’s transfer radar?
There have been no concrete links between United and Welbeck this summer, but manager Erik ten Hag still appears to be on the hunt for new players.
Juventus midfielder Adrien Rabiot is the latest to be linked with a move to Old Trafford, while former Stoke man Marko Arnautovic, now of Bologna, emerged as a target following the Brighton defeat.
Meanwhile, the saga surrounding Frenkie de Jong at Barcelona is still ongoing, with Chelsea also reportedly interested in the Dutch midfielder.
