Manchester United were desperate to sign a striker in the summer transfer window and even considered a move for a former player before splashing the cash on a new-look frontline
Sir Jim Ratcliffe was not happy with Manchester United’s transfer target
Manchester United reportedly contemplated signing Brighton’s Danny Welbeck before spending £200million on their attack this summer.
The club’s co-owner, Sir Jim Ratcliffe, allegedly put a stop to the move due to his dissatisfaction with the idea of a two-year contract for the 35 year old.
United brought in Matheus Cunha from Wolves for £62.5m, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo for a potential £71m and Benjamin Sesko for £66.3m, providing Ruben Amorim with new attacking options during the transfer window.
Scoring goals was a priority for Old Trafford this summer after the squad had difficulty finding the back of the net last season.
While Rasmus Hojlund has departed for Napoli, Cunha and Mbeumo have already secured their places in Amorim’s starting eleven. However, the Portuguese coach has been more reluctant to let Sesko lead the attack, with Mason Mount taking up that role instead.
Danny Welbeck scored 11 goals for Brighton last season(Image: Getty Images)
But, following their disappointing 2024-25 season, United had another player in their sights. The club’s attempt to sign Liam Delap from Ipswich was unsuccessful as he opted for Chelsea instead.
From there, United considered bringing back former striker Welbeck, according to The Athletic. The Carrington product began his career at Old Trafford before moving on to Arsenal, Watford and Brighton.
Even at 35, having ended the previous season as Brighton’s top scorer, Welbeck was under consideration. After failing to secure Delap, United ‘seriously’ thought about signing a backup striker.
Erik ten Hag had his sights set on Welbeck a year ago, but Manchester United did not pursue the player due to uncertainty surrounding his position.
Despite Welbeck re-emerging as a potential signing in recent months, and club officials contemplating a two-year contract if an agreement could be reached with Brighton, no formal offer was made for the former United forward.
The strategy was to secure a cost-effective signing alongside a high-profile one. However, United’s owner Ratcliffe felt a deal of that duration could not be approved, leading to discussions about a one-year contract with the possibility of an extension.
In addition to refreshing their attacking line-up, United secured a new goalkeeper on the final day of the transfer window, Senne Lammens from Royal Antwerp. The Belgian signed a five-year contract to compete with Andre Onana and Altay Bayindir.
In a surprising turn of events, the club also attempted to secure another key target, a central midfielder. United approached Atletico Madrid regarding a loan deal for Conor Gallagher, but the Spanish top-flight team showed no interest in a temporary arrangement.
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