Chelsea are reportedly in discussions to sign Brighton striker Danny Welbeck. The 35-year-old forward is said to be keen on a move to Stamford Bridge, with optimism from Chelsea’s side that a deal could be finalised. This potential transfer signals a shift in strategy for Chelsea, as they look to add experienced players to their squad.
Welbeck, who signed a 12-month contract extension in March, has his current deal with Brighton running until the end of the 2026-27 season. Brighton has not commented on the ongoing talks. Last season, Welbeck achieved a career-high of 13 league goals in 37 games for Brighton, contributing to his total of 51 goals in 201 matches since joining the club from Watford in 2020.
Shift in Chelsea’s transfer strategy
The pursuit of Welbeck aligns with Chelsea’s evolving transfer approach, which now includes targeting more experienced players. This comes after influential owner Behdad Eghbali indicated in April that the club’s model of signing young players might need an adjustment. Manager Xabi Alonso is reportedly seeking experienced individuals and strong personalities to address team shortcomings, particularly after the team’s 10th-place finish in the Premier League last season.
This shift was also evident in earlier attempts to sign 33-year-old midfielder Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, though the Black Cats declined to sell. While the arrival of 23-year-old Morgan Rogers fits the club’s preference for younger talent, he also brings significant Premier League experience. Chelsea are also expected to complete a £52m move for 26-year-old Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix, further adding to their Premier League-ready experience.
Chelsea have already secured Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa for £117m, a record fee for a British player, and are close to bringing in Maxence Lacroix. Other recent signings include full-back Marco Palestra. The club has also brought in several players from Brighton in recent seasons, such as Joao Pedro, Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, and Robert Sanchez.
Impact on current Chelsea forwards
Welbeck’s potential arrival raises questions about the futures of several current Chelsea forwards. Joao Pedro is considered the club’s primary option. However, the presence of Welbeck could impact players like Nicolas Jackson, Liam Delap, and Emmanuel Emegha.
Jackson, who recently returned from a loan spell at Bayern Munich, was expected to stay at Stamford Bridge but is reportedly open to leaving due to interest from Aston Villa. Delap, who joined Chelsea from Ipswich for £30m a year ago, had hoped to establish himself under Alonso but is increasingly anticipated to depart. The future of Dutch striker Emegha also remains uncertain, despite his recent move to Chelsea from Strasbourg, a club within the same ownership group.
Additionally, Marc Guiu is understood to be available for either a permanent transfer or a loan move, with Chelsea valuing him at approximately £25m. Welbeck’s move could mean that more than one of these forwards will seek opportunities elsewhere, even though Chelsea is not involved in European competition.
Welbeck’s experience and leadership qualities are seen as appealing to manager Xabi Alonso. He has an impressive record of seven goals and two assists in 19 Premier League games against Chelsea.
Welbeck’s contract with Brighton has one year remaining.
Source: bbc.com
