Danny Welbeck is into the final year of his Brighton contract
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Chelsea are in talks to sign veteran striker Danny Welbeck from Brighton, according to Press Association sources.
The 35-year-old has emerged as a surprising target to reinforce the Blues’ attacking options, following an impressive season where he netted 13 Premier League goals in 37 appearances.
Optimism is high that a deal can be finalised, with Brighton understood to be open to sanctioning the departure of the forward, who has a year remaining on his current contract, should the right offer be made.
A potential move for Welbeck would likely pave the way for exits from Stamford Bridge, adding to the existing uncertainty surrounding the futures of young strikers Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson.
Liam Delap is facing an uncertain future at Chelsea
Liam Delap is facing an uncertain future at Chelsea (Getty)
Delap, who had a difficult debut campaign after his £30 million transfer from Ipswich a year ago, was expected to be given more time but this development casts doubt on his position as second-choice striker behind Joao Pedro, who scored 15 league goals last season.
Jackson, meanwhile, spent last season on loan at Bayern Munich as Harry Kane’s understudy, and has attracted interest from Aston Villa.
The pursuit of Welbeck signals a notable shift in Chelsea’s transfer strategy under new manager Xabi Alonso, as the club appears to be prioritising more established acquisitions.
With over 400 Premier League appearances for clubs including Arsenal and Manchester United, Welbeck’s potential arrival would represent the clearest departure yet from the club’s recent policy of recruiting young, unproven talent.
Welbeck, who famously scored twice in Brighton’s 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge last season, signed a new 12-month deal in March that runs until the end of the 2026-27 campaign.
Alonso also has Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha, acquired from sister club Strasbourg, and 20-year-old Marc Guiu, who has seen limited league action since his 2024 move from Barcelona, among his forward options.
Chelsea have already been busy in the transfer market and completed the £117 million signing of Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa last week.
Alonso spoke about Rogers on Monday, and expressed his confidence that he will be able to flourish alongside his England teammate Cole Palmer at Stamford Bridge amid concerns over the two players fighting for the same position.