Why Danny Welbeck Would Be A Good Signing For Everton
Everton are plotting a shock swoop for Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
The Toffees have been in the market for a new striker for over a month now, after having sold last season’s top-scorer Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United for a reported fee of £75million. They have brought in Wayne Rooney back from United, while young striker Sandro Ramirez has also been signed by the club.
But manager Ronald Koeman wants to strengthen his forward line even more and revealed earlier this week that the club are interested in bringing in another striker, who could also operate on the flanks. Speaking to Sky Sports, the Dutchman said:
“Everybody knows we are looking for three more players – a left centre-back, a left full-back, a player who can play out of both positions, a winger and a striker and that’s the picture, what the best is for our team and we will see what we can do.”
The £13.5m rated 26-year old Welbeck does fit the bill for the type of player that Koeman wants to add to his troops, but will he be a good signing?
The former Manchester United starlet was tipped to have a bright future when he burst through the ranks at the Old Trafford, but things haven’t gone according to plans for him. Having broken into the United squad back in 2008 under Sir Alex Ferguson, Welbeck could never go on to establish himself as the first-choice, mostly due to the superior options that were available for the club at that time. When Louis Van Gaal decided to sell him to Arsenal in 2014, the Englishman had made 142 appearances for United, with a return of 29 goals and 21 assists.
However, his three years with the North London club have been plagued by incessant injuries throughout, which have never allowed him to flourish at the Emirates. Till date, he has played on 70 occasions for Arsene Wenger’s side, scoring 17 times and registering 12 assists. Last season, the 26-year old missed a good chunk of games due to injuries and as a result, he made 20 appearances in all competitions, scoring and assisting 4 goals each.
The 26-year old has demonstrated all the traits necessary to excel in the Premier League for years now but hasn’t really been able to live up to the potential. About a year and a half ago, when United were struggling for goals under Van Gaal, club legend Paul Scholes lambasted the club’s decision to let him go.
“He’s a big example of what Manchester United are, he was here from nine years of age and came right through to the first team. He’s quick, he’s strong, can score a goal, can make a goal, can play left wing, can play right wing.
“Whether that’s come from the manager or beyond I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure it probably did come from the manager. It should never ever have been allowed to happen,” he was quoted as saying by the Mirror in March last year.
That pretty much sums up everything about what Welbeck truly is and also just goes on to show how highly he is regarded in the footballing fraternity. The 26-year old is strong and powerful, possesses the raw pace to run in behind defences and is someone who will work his socks off for the team by harrying and pressurising the opponents at the top when not in possession. He runs the channels hard, can drift out wide or cut inside, can operate alone at the top or on the flanks.
Welbeck’s flexibility and versatility give so many options to the manager in his formation and personnel in the attacking third. One thing that has always been held against the striker though is that he doesn’t get enough goals. But, often it is overlooked that he was never given a regular run of games at United and was played out of position and at Arsenal, injuries have held him back. Indeed, his 14 goals for the England national team in 34 games indicates that he can produce good returns with a regular run in the first team.
With the likes of Davy Klaassen and Wayne Rooney behind him to create chances, Welbeck could thrive at the Goodison Park. At 26, he is entering his peak years and if Everton manage to sign him, and if he stays injury free for the entirety of the season, it could prove to be a great piece of business for the Blue half of the Merseyside.