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'Former Brighton striker Dean Saunders believes Danny Welbeck should stay with the Seagulls.
Welbeck, 35, is on the cusp of leaving the Seagulls and team up with Xabi Alonso's Chelsea.
The ex-Manchester United and Arsenal man was a key man for Fabian Hurzeler's team last term with a career-high 13-goals in the top flight.
Welbeck, who scored twice when Brighton won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge last season, signed a new 12-month deal in March which runs until the end of the 2026-27 campaign. Chelsea are expected to pay around £5m to secure his services and hand him a two-year contract.
Saunders, who made 72 appearances for Albion between 1985 and 1987, said: "Danny won’t be playing regularly in the team at Chelsea, and I can’t understand why he wants to be a cheerleader next season.
“Welbeck has just come off the back of a brilliant season for Brighton and has definitely earned talk of a move like this, but he won’t get the same opportunities at Chelsea as he does at Brighton.
“If Chelsea are chasing some top-class Premier League experience, I think they need to be looking at players slightly younger than Welbeck.
“They will need leadership on the pitch all season, and he won’t provide that. He would be great to have around the club though."
Despite the blow of losing Welbeck, Saunders feels Brighton’s shrewd approach to the transfer market will help them have another successful season in the Premier League.
“I expect Brighton to have another good season in the Premier League,” said Saunders.
“Tony Bloom is a gambler by nature, and I think you can see over the past few years he’s sold and bought players very well. He has a ‘Moneyball’ style where he and his team rely heavily on stats and potential for future growth, and it’s a system that has served them well since being in the Premier League.
“They’ve lost some big players already, and Carlos Baleba and Danny Welbeck may also follow suit and leave the club, which would be a huge blow for Brighton. However, I would never back them to go down. They recruit so well, and I think their fans are used to these types of summers now. “
Saunders also said Brighton’s performances in the top flight have been ‘exceptional’ and said fans should embrace Brighton’s position as they prepare to juggle the demands of Conference League football this term.
He added: “The performances on the pitch from Brighton over the last few years have been nothing short of exceptional, and I expect that to continue. However, it wasn’t all that long ago when Brighton were bankrupt, so every Premier League season is a blessing in my opinion.
“I advise fans not to take it for granted and to embrace European football, but every season they stay in the Premier League, and the club runs smoothly, is a great season in my opinion.”