Danny Welbeck has made a bold claim about his former club Manchester United, and it's turning heads across the Premier League. The Brighton striker, who came through the ranks at Old Trafford, knows a thing or two about what makes a title contender—and he's been impressed by what he's seen from the Red Devils this season.
Manchester United have undergone a remarkable transformation in front of goal. After a dismal campaign where they finished 15th in the Premier League table and managed just 44 goals in 38 games, the club's hierarchy knew something had to change. That disappointing run, which also included a 1-0 loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final, highlighted a glaring weakness in the final third.
INEOS stepped in with a clear plan last summer, investing over £200 million to revamp the attack. The arrivals of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko have paid immediate dividends. United have now scored 63 goals in 35 league matches, propelling them to third place in the table. Sesko leads the charge with 12 goals across all competitions, while Cunha (9) and Mbeumo (10) have provided crucial support.
But the club isn't resting on its laurels. With Joshua Zirkzee's future uncertain, United are still linked with attacking reinforcements this summer. The belief is that Sesko could thrive even more alongside an experienced striker—and that's where Welbeck's name has resurfaced.
Welbeck's journey is a familiar one to United fans. He broke into the first team under Sir Alex Ferguson, impressed during a loan spell at Sunderland in 2010/11, but never quite secured a permanent starting spot. When Louis van Gaal took over in 2014, Welbeck was sold to Arsenal, having registered 29 goals and 16 assists in 142 appearances for the Red Devils.
After five seasons at the Emirates and a brief stint at Watford, Welbeck joined Brighton in 2020. Now 35, he's enjoying a renaissance at the Amex. This season, he's netted 14 goals and provided two assists in 37 appearances—including two goals against his former club. He scored in Brighton's 4-2 Premier League defeat to United and found the net again in the 2-1 FA Cup third-round victory.
Welbeck recently sat down with Sunderland's media team, and his comments suggest he still holds a deep respect for the club where it all began. Whether a return to Old Trafford is on the cards remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: United's attack is finally clicking, and even their former players are taking notice.