Manchester United have been tipped to sign former striker Danny Welbeck in January after his fantastic start to the 2025/26 season
Benjamin Sesko joined Manchester United from RB Leipzig in the summer(Image: Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck would be the perfect mentor for summer arrival Benjamin Sesko, it has been claimed.
The Red Devils invested heavily in their forward line over the summer, signing Premier League-proven stars Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha. They also branched out into the European market with the big-money signing of former RB Leipzig striker Sesko, fending off competition from Newcastle in the process.
So far this term, the Slovenia international has scored two goals and registered one assist in his 12 appearances across all competitions. However, Sesko suffered a setback in his last outing before the international break – a 2-2 draw away at Tottenham – in which he came on as a second-half substitute before being quickly withdrawn with an apparent knee injury.
As a result, the 22-year-old did not report for international duty and has spent the break working his way back to fitness. Reports this week claim the striker is still a few weeks away from returning, meaning he is likely to miss a handful of key matches after the international break.
With the January transfer window fast approaching, speculation around potential incomings is understandably picking up. One name that has been tentatively linked with a move to Old Trafford is former striker Welbeck, and pundit Don Hutchison believes the Brighton forward would be the ideal mentor for Sesko as he adapts to the English top flight.
Former Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck has been tipped to return to Old Trafford in January(Image: Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
“I mean, it’d be a brilliant fit,” Hutchison said in an interview with SportCasting. “He’d be a fantastic signing because Danny Welbeck’s one of those players where, if he went back to Man United, it would be like when Jonny Evans returned.
“When Jonny Evans went back there a couple of years ago, he was happy to be a sort of mentor inside the dressing room. He was happy to be a mentor to the players that were playing.
“He was happy to play his part when needed. He was happy to be on the bench. I think Danny Welbeck going to Man United would be a really good fit in terms of he can still play, he can still score goals, he’s still really fit.
“But he would still have the attitude where it would be a fantastic move forward, being back at Man United with the knowledge that he’d be mentoring the likes of Sesko. I think it would be a perfect move.”
Welbeck came through United’s youth system and made more than 140 senior appearances before moving to Arsenal in 2014. He later had a spell at Watford before joining Brighton in 2020, where he has enjoyed something of a resurgence – particularly this season, with six goals in 11 Premier League games so far.
This isn’t the first time the 34-year-old has been linked with a sensational return to Old Trafford, with rumours also emerging around this time last year. But for now, there are no concrete indications that United are preparing a move for the player.
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