Chelsea eye £20m double swoop for Henderson and Welbeck
Chelsea are in talks to sign Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, with the 35-year-old keen on moving to Stamford Bridge. Welbeck, who scored a career-high 13 league goals in 37 games for Brighton last season, would bring significant experience to the Blues.
Chelsea have been looking to strengthen their squad this summer, with manager Xabi Alonso seeking to address shortcomings that contributed to the team's 10th-place finish in the Premier League last season. The arrival of Welbeck would add to the Blues' attacking options, despite not being involved in European competition.
The move for Welbeck would be a significant shift in strategy for Chelsea, who have traditionally focused on signing young players. However, influential owner Behdad Eghbali has suggested that the club needs to "tweak" its model, and Welbeck could be a good fit.
The 35-year-old has a proven track record, having scored 51 goals in 201 matches since joining Brighton from Watford in 2020. He signed a 12-month contract extension in March, with his current deal running until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Chelsea also have other forwards on their books, including Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu, and Nicolas Jackson. However, there is uncertainty surrounding the futures of several of these players, with Jackson open to leaving amid interest from Aston Villa, and Delap increasingly expected to depart.
The Blues have signed club-record attacker Morgan Rogers and full-back Marco Palestra this summer, and are closing in on a move for centre-back Maxence Lacroix. However, the arrival of Welbeck would add further experience to the squad.
Welbeck's overall game is impressive, with his ability to hold the ball up, bring team-mates into play, or buy his defence some valuable time. He is also a leader on the pitch, driving standards and making demands of his team-mates.
Chelsea are expected to complete a £52m move for Crystal Palace defender Lacroix, 26, to add further Premier League-ready experience. However, the arrival of Welbeck would represent bad news for several other forwards, including Jackson, who is open to leaving.
It remains to be seen whether Chelsea can conclude a deal for Welbeck, but the 35-year-old's statistics suggest he is still a top forward. He featured in 37 out of Brighton's 38 Premier League games last season, with 13 goals putting him joint-ninth in the list of top scorers.
Source: BBC Sports
