Possible Summer Destinations for Danny Welbeck
By Max Haley
It seemed like a logical signing when Danny Welbeck went to Watford last summer. The Englishman had a decent, but injury-plagued, final season at Arsenal, and hadn't justified a new deal as his existing one ran out. He joined the Hornets, who had just finished 11th, with a view to competing in the top half of the table.
Fast forward a year and he is now at a club who have just been relegated to the Championship, after another season blighted by injury. Despite that, Welbeck has impressed at Vicarage Road. In the last five games of the season, he scored twice – including a spectacular overhead kick – and got one assist, in a lousy Watford team.
You can't help but feel that Welbeck is too good for the Championship, so here are six Premier League teams who should be looking to sign him.
1. Leeds United
Leeds have been promoted back to the Premier League for the first time in 16 years. They will be looking to strengthen heavily in the summer, and one place they should look to do that is up front.
Patrick Bamford has been the man entrusted with scoring goals for Leeds this season, and his 16 goals suggest that he's done pretty well. However, he has struggled in the Premier League previously, and it would be naïve to put a top flight goalscoring burden on his shoulders. Welbeck can provide competition for Bamford but he could also be used as a left winger, or in a front two.
2. West Bromwich Albion
West Brom are another side who have been promoted back into the top flight and, like Leeds, they will be looking to strengthen their side heavily. The Baggies' current striker is Charlie Austin, a journeyman who has previously cut it in the Premier League.
However, Austin only scored 11 times this season, just topping Hal-Robson Kanu's ten – although the Welshman has never proven himself in the top flight.
Welbeck can offer competition to Austin, but he can also bring Premier League experience to this West Brom side and if he can stay fit, he'll be really useful next season.
3. Sheffield United
Sheffield United have had a tremendous season in the Premier League. Their ninth-placed finish was beyond their fans' wildest expectations but despite all of that, they weren't particularly prolific. The Blades scored 39 goals, fewer than relegated Bournemouth, so some recruits in the attack wouldn't go amiss.
Their top scorers were Oli McBurnie and Lys Mousset, with six goals each, and Welbeck could come into this Sheffield United side and offer to at least match their goal tallies. In their two striker system, the Watford man would work wonders alongside McBurnie and the two could prove a really potent strikeforce.
4. Crystal Palace
Only Norwich scored fewer goals than Crystal Palace in the Premier League this season. Jordan Ayew bagged the most for them (nine) but it would be dangerous to rely on the Ghanaian, who has generally struggled for goals in England. The Eagles' next top scorer is Wilfried Zaha with four and, to make matters worse, he's almost definitely off this summer.
Christian Benteke is the only other striker who starts frequently for the south Londoners, but he scored twice all season. The Belgian has been out of sorts in front of goal for three years now, even though he's added a good amount in his link-up play.
This is where Welbeck comes in; he already lives in London, and he has previously performed very well under Roy Hodgson for England. With Zaha leaving, Palace could do with a left-sided forward, and he also offers competition to Ayew at centre forward. Welbeck to Crystal Palace seems like a no-brainer.
5. Newcastle United
Newcastle are another side who have struggled for goals this season. Their £40m signing Joelinton only scored four times this year, their top scorer Miguel Almiron got eight, with only four coming in the league.
Steve Bruce will be looking to bring in reinforcements up front, but after already spending a princely sum on Joelinton, and their Saudi Arabian takeover falling through, their transfer kitty may be limited.
Danny Welbeck would be a cost-effective signing for Newcastle. Offering Premier League experience, he may be the guy Bruce needs.
6. Burnley
Burnley continue to impress under Sean Dyche. The Lancashire side finished tenth, just five points behind sixth place. They've had a relatively successful season goalscoring-wise too, with Chris Wood notching 14 goals and Jay Rodriguez also reaching double figures. The two of them played a lot of football this season though, as Ashley Barnes was injured for the second half of the campaign.
In order to allow rotation in his forward line, Dyche may look to bring in a striker this summer. Welbeck would be a perfect addition for Burnley. He may not play week-in, week-out, but considering his history with injuries that wouldn't be a problem.
He could provide much-needed competition with the likes of Barnes and Rodriguez, as well as potentially forming a dangerous strike partnership with Wood, in a classic big-man, little-man dynamic. Burnley could do a lot worse.