A year ago, Manchester United were a long way down the road to re-signing their former striker Danny Welbeck, only for plans to change and the move never to materialise.
At one stage of the 2025 summer window, it felt almost inevitable that Welbeck would return to Old Trafford, but it never happened. Nobody has really had cause to rue that decision over the previous 12 months.
The £215million United spent on attacking reinforcements has proved to be money well spent, with Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko all enjoying good first seasons at the club. Welbeck remained at Brighton and has just enjoyed the most prolific season of his career.
Profile of striker needed
The irony is that he now looks the profile of striker United really need. Yes, Sesko looked impressive in his first season, but he isn't the finished article and has had injury issues. Joshua Zirkzee hasn't shown the consistency to be a backup striker in a Champions League campaign.
An experienced forward is on United's radar this summer, but it doesn't look like it will be Welbeck. After exploring a move in 2024 and going even further with their interest last year, the 35-year-old is now reportedly a target for Chelsea.
Missed opportunity
Welbeck has a year left on his deal at the Amex, but would probably be keen to have another crack at the big time after his years at United and Arsenal. That it might now happen back in London would be both a shame and a missed opportunity.
He has shown the value of experience in recent seasons and has looked to be getting better with age, rather than slowing down. A return to Old Trafford wouldn't have just been a romantic story for the Longsight-born striker, who joined the club at the age of eight, but he would have added to the squad as well.
Michael Carrick's squad need another goalscorer and they need another central attacker who can rotate with and support Sesko. Welbeck would have offered that. He brings Premier League pedigree, understands the club, and his experience would have been beneficial for Sesko and the other young strikers coming through at the club, including Chido Obi and JJ Gabriel.
Potential move to Chelsea
Welbeck has nine goals in 20 games against United since leaving the club, but it will hurt more if he is scoring those goals for Chelsea than when he has been doing it for Brighton.
United are continuing to assess options in attack this summer. Despite his stylish goal at Rosenborg, there remains a good chance that Zirkzee leaves this summer, and a move for a forward could come later in the window.
But Welbeck might have been the ideal candidate. Unfortunately for United, it's starting to look like that ship might have sailed.
