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Why Danny Welbeck could be perfect Mike Ashley signing even if ‘exclusive’ is usual nonsense

5 years ago
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Friday morning has brought an ‘exclusive’ about Newcastle United supposedly wanting to sign Danny Welbeck this summer.

Arsenal are set to not renew the striker’s contract, he has been at the Emirates for five years after the Gunners paid Man Utd around £18m back in summer 2014.

Back then, Newcastle were also claimed to be interested, instead going for the talent that is Emmanuel Riviere for £6m.

Then last summer (2018) another ‘exclusive’, that time from Teamtalk, claimed Newcastle were going to sign Danny Welbeck, with nothing coming of that either.

Whilst I take all ‘exclusives’ the same (believe it when I see it…), I think that there is every chance that Mike Ashley could see Danny Welbeck as an ideal signing this summer.

The NUFC loves a bargain, to think that he is cheating the system, ready to sign certain players with past injury issues or other negatives attached to them, in the hope they can prove everybody wrong. Instead of doing the sensible/obvious thing.

So rather than pay £16m for the tried and tested Salomon Rondon, I could easily see Mike Ashley insisting Newcastle go for Danny Welbeck instead.

He may be set to turn 29 in November but he is still more than a year younger than Rondon and most importantly would be a free transfer.

Wages would probably be similar to what Rondon would want.

However, for normal people, there are a lot of alarm bells going off.

Danny Welbeck has had 21 separate spells out through injury (see below) and indeed hasn’t played since November due to a serious ankle injury.

In these past five years, Welbeck has scored only 16 Premier League goals. Plus injuries have ruled him out of around half the games in his five years at Arsenal.

Only twice has he managed more than six PL goals in a season in his entire career and both of those was when he was playing for a Man Utd team that were still very good and making plenty of appearances. Danny Welbeck scoring nine goals in 30 PL appearances in 2011/12 for Man Utd and nine in 25 PL appearances for them in 2013/14.

I hope I’m wrong but rather than going with Salomon Rondon as an obvious striker to buy and kick off the summer transfer business, instead Mike Ashley will be insisting on either a young striker from a weak league who has scored a few goals in the hope he will turn into a star of the future, or damaged goods such as Danny Welbeck with also massive risk factors.

Football insider website ‘Exclusive’ report:

‘Newcastle United are setting their sights on signing Arsenal forward Danny Welbeck this summer, Football Insider understands.

The England international, 28, is out of contract at the end of the season and is not expected to be offered a new deal by the north London giants.

A source close to the player has told Football Insider that Newcastle are ready to battle Premier League rivals Everton as well as clubs across the Continent for the capture of Welbeck.

The north-east giants are keen on Welbeck regardless of whether manager Rafael Benitez commits to signing a new contract with the club amid protracted talks to replace his deal that expires in June.

Like Everton, Newcastle regard Welbeck as as a quality target available at a bargain price and one who can play anywhere across the forward line, either as a spearhead or in a wide forward role.’

Danny Welbeck injury record (as per Soccerway):

Ankle/Foot Injury 08/11/18 – ????

Knock 17/01/18 – 08/02/18

Groin Strain 14/10/17 – 16/11/17

Groin Strain 17/09/17 – 12/10/17

Knee Injury 08/05/16 – 28/12/16

Knee Injury 27/04/15 – 03/02/16

Thigh Muscle Strain 28/12/14 – 03/02/15

Knee Injury 12/08/14 – 23/08/14

Knee Injury 03/02/14 – 23/02/14

Knee Injury 21/12/13 – 24/12/13

Knee Injury 20/10/13 – 22/11/13

Knee Injury 11/09/13 – 20/09/13

Knee Injury 23/04/13 – 10/05/13

Illness 24/12/12 – 27/12/12

Ankle/Foot Injury 30/04/12 – 31/05/12

Calf Muscle Strain 13/11/11 – 20/11/11

Hamstring 06/09/11 – 20/09/11

Hamstring 22/04/11 – 30/06/11

Hamstring 05/01/11 – 01/03/11

Groin Strain 14/11/10 – 19/11/10

Knee Injury 28/02/10 – 31/05/10

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