Could Danny Welbeck Be the Free Signing of the Season?
Brighton handed free agent Danny Welbeck a one-year contract back in October to give manager Graham Potter extra depth in that position this season. The former Manchester United and England striker is already proving to be a very smart signing for the Seagulls.
At the age of 30, Welbeck will feel he still has a lot to offer. The Englishman has struggled with injuries over the last few years which have prevented him from showing his best in the top-flight for Arsenal and Watford.
Welbeck proved how valuable he can be to Potter when he scored his first goal for the club in a 2-1 away victory over Aston Villa. He also won his side a penalty in Brighton’s 1-1 draw with Premier League champions Liverpool.
Brighton were linked with a number of strikers in the summer, however, many of their targets ended up elsewhere. A deal to bring Welbeck into the club was seen as very low risk but his promising start could lead to the two parties agreeing a longer contract in the near future.
Welbeck has now started Brighton’s last three matches. Potter will be very pleased with the form his side are in. At the time of writing, the Seagulls are 9/2 in the football betting for a top 10 finish this season. If they can manage to end the campaign in the top half, it will be seen as excellent progress from the 15th place finish last year.
Welbeck’s Experience Will Help Younger Players
The new Brighton striker has a wealth of experience which will help some of the younger players in the squad. He has featured for England at major tournaments and was part of the Manchester United squad who won the FIFA Club World Cup in 2008.
Welbeck has made 32 appearances for England and it is unlikely that he has given up featuring for the Three Lions again. With Euro 2020 taking place next summer, he will be desperate to impress Gareth Southgate this season. The national team are not short of strikers who are in form at the moment, however, the 30-year-old has scored 16 goals for his country, so he has proven before he can deliver on the biggest stage.
If Welbeck can find the goal scoring form he showed earlier in his career, it will take the pressure off Neal Maupay who was the Seagulls’ top goal scorer last season. He was the only player in the squad to reach double figures in the Premier League with 10 goals.
Welbeck impressed Potter with the shape he was in when he arrived at training for the first time with Brighton. Despite not having a club, the striker was very fit and was ready to go from that opening week.
Although he has a great eye for goal, Welbeck is known for his hard work rate across the pitch. This is something Potter demands from all 11 of his players so the Seagulls’ latest addition will fit well into his manager’s philosophy.
If Welbeck does continue the bright start he has made at Brighton, he could prove to be the best free signing of the season in the Premier League.
