The article on the The Athletic says we have been in contact with him since January letting him know we’d be keen this summer. Suggests why we were at the front of the queue. Leventhal says we enquired last summer but weren’t prepared to pay £8m. So doesn’t seem like it’s as out of the blue as first thought. Supposedly beat Palace, West Ham, Napoli and Besiktas for him. Same article suggests Success and Okaka are likely to let go permanently or on loan - which is no surprise.
Seems I was wrong. Interesting that he passed the medical yesterday. Win win for both player and the club.
This could be a very good signing, but, of course, it's a risk. However, the old adage bears out, if Welbeck did not have a terrible injury record, he'd be on £200k per week, at a top 5 club and commanding a £50m fee. If we this pays off, we're golden. If not, we've wasted a few hundred grand. Makes more sense to me than Oulare type signings. Happy with the deal as it stands.
Now we can afford to let Okaka and Big Isaac join Everton, to replace a couple of the duds they're looking to offload
He averaged 25 games per season in his 5 years at Arsenal. Same again would be fine. We only really need him against the top 6. Andre can do the middle 10 and Del boy the bottom 3.
Let's hope he's a good as the last gooners coming to the end of their careers that we signed: Pat Rice and Manny...
If, and it is one of those significantly big if's, he can stay fit this is a bloody useful signing. At his best Welbeck is quite the handful and will boost our attacking options. The fear is that when he is finally fit, probably around September time, he'll last 2-3 games before getting crocked again.
Anyone think this is also a public display to Rennes that we have other options instead of Sarr if they aren't willing to play ball on the deal? Spend a few million on the Welbeck contract to flush Rennes out. If we sign both then amazing if Rennes don't budge we have Welbeck as a half decent, lower risk alternative. Or perhaps I'm too optimistic we'd bring in two wingers/forwards
If his pay is massively based on performances, then this is a bit of a masterstroke. Welbeck is hard working and has quality. Good job he didn't look at the CVs of our medical team before signing.
