Gary Neville has criticised Manchester United for allowing Danny Welbeck to leave 12 years ago and believes the striker will prove to be a 'fantastic' signing for Chelsea. Chelsea have reportedly completed a deal with Brighton to sign the 35-year-old forward following his impressive six-year spell on the south coast, where he scored 51 goals and provided 18 assists for the Seagulls.
Chelsea's Shift in Transfer Strategy
Stamford Bridge bosses have moved away from their youth-led transfer policy this summer, aiming to add leadership and 'Premier League ready' players to a dressing room lacking experience. Veteran England midfielder Jordan Henderson is also being pursued by the Blues, with the 36-year-old reportedly terminating his contract at Brentford to facilitate a move to west London.
Chelsea made history earlier this summer by beating Arsenal to the signing of Morgan Rogers in a record £117million deal with Aston Villa—the highest fee ever for a British footballer. Marco Palestra and Geovany Quenda have also been added to the first-team squad as anticipation builds ahead of Xabi Alonso's debut season in charge.
Neville's Verdict on Chelsea's Recruitment
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville suggested BlueCo's shift from youth to experience was overdue after years of instability. 'It's a big shift. It's one we've all been asking for… if you've watched Chelsea over the last three, four or five years, I've said there's inexperience right throughout the club, right from the ownership to the sporting department to the managers,' the former Manchester United and England right-back said. 'So what you've got is a situation whereby there's just no experience.'
'I think by putting a spine in of good senior professionals that act as guardians of good behaviours, responsibilities, disciplines in the dressing room, it's not magic, it's something that all top teams have had for many, many decades. So putting in Jordan Henderson, who knows how to win a Premier League title, Danny Welbeck, who knows how to win a Premier League title… their job is as much off the pitch as it is on the pitch.'
Welbeck's Contribution on and off the Pitch
Neville expects Welbeck and Henderson to raise standards for younger players at Chelsea. 'They're still good players, they can contribute maybe 25 to 35 games a season at a good level. But what they will do is all those young players there at Chelsea, they will make sure they turn up every single day, give their all, come back the same the next day and do it again. That's been a problem. I don't think the young players at Chelsea have had any particular guidance or leadership around them either on the pitch or off the pitch. They've now got people around them who can do that and know how to get around the block.'
Neville Criticises Man Utd Over Welbeck Sale
According to Neville, United made a big mistake selling Welbeck—a product of the club's academy—to Arsenal for just £16m in 2014. 'I said ten years ago that Manchester United should never have sold Danny Welbeck. He's gone away and done brilliantly well. He's coming into a little cameo at the end of his career but he's fantastic player. I worked with him obviously as a team-mate, I worked with him with England as a coach and he was fantastic for England. And he's been good in the Premier League as well. It's a good move for Chelsea and it gives them a real option up front.'
Alonso's Response to Transfer Links
Alonso gave little away when asked about Chelsea's interest after the side's pre-season clash with Western Sydney Wanderers on Wednesday. Asked whether the links to Welbeck and Henderson pointed to a need for more experience, he replied: 'I'm sure that from today until the last day of the transfer window there will be a lot of links and a lot of rumours. So to be commenting on all of them, it's going to be a hard task. But for sure we need proper balance in terms of qualities, in terms of positions, in terms of balance. We want to have a complete squad and make a great team. We have a plan and let's say that until the start of the Premier League… until then, we will see.' When pressed on his memories of facing Welbeck, Alonso sidestepped the question and said: 'Many rumours at the moment.'
