Lee Sharpe has urged Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim to consider bringing Danny Welbeck back to Old Trafford after Erik ten Hag's unsuccessful efforts to oversee a return. The 34-year-old striker, who emerged from United's youth ranks in 2008, is on course for a career-best goalscoring season in the Premier League.
Welbeck scored 29 goals in 142 appearances for the Red Devils before being sold to Arsenal in 2014 in a deal worth a reported £16million.
After netting 32 times in 126 games for the Gunners, Welbeck moved to Watford in 2019 and then Brighton and Hove Albion in 2020.
Under Graham Potter, Roberto De Zerbi and Fabian Hurzeler, Welbeck has notched up 32 goals in 139 appearances, including six already this season.
Sharpe has called on Amorim to target Welbeck as an experienced head in his attacking arsenal, with Rasmus Hojlund still a raw talent and Joshua Zirkzee, only minutely older, misfiring at Old Trafford.
"Manchester United could look at someone like Danny Welbeck in January," the former United winger told Racing Tipster.
"I know he's been at the club before, but he's doing brilliant things at Brighton this season and looks a really assured and mature player at the moment."
"He's working his socks off, creating and scoring goals, and he looks like he's in his prime down there at the AMEX Stadium.
"That's the type of striker I'm thinking of that is bright enough and strong enough to have a really good effect in the Premier League."
Hojlund was United's top goalscorer in his debut season after completing a dream £72million switch from Atalanta last summer, accumulating 16 strikes.
But he has scored just twice in 13 appearances this term, and Sharpe believes he needs more support than Zirkzee, whose tally since his £36.5m arrival from Bologna doesn't surpass one.
Sharpe added: "I think Rasmus Hojlund will come good eventually, but he's still a bit raw and still needs a little but more composure, so the club probably need a bit of extra back-up."
While Hojlund has shown glimpses of brilliance since landing in M16, there is a general feeling that the 21-year-old isn't quite the polished gem required by a faltering United side.
Former manager Erik ten Hag, who was relieved of his duties following consistent underperformance capped by a 2-1 defeat to West Ham United last month, green-lit Zirkzee's summer arrival.
Yet, The Athletic claimed Ten Hag also identified Welbeck as an ideal candidate for bolstering the squad's striking options during recruitment conversations.
However, United and Ineos hesitated to advance concrete interest, leaving Welbeck secured at Brighton until at least 2026.
This inaction may now stand as one of the missed opportunities lamented in the wake of Ten Hag's departure.
Amorim has a tough task ahead if he hopes to change fortunes in the north west after leaving Sporting, particularly after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town in his first match.
United are set to take on Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League tonight before welcoming Everton to M16 for a Premier League showdown on Sunday.