Danny Welbeck has been linked with a somewhat surprising Arsenal exit, with Super Lig side Besiktas keen on luring him away from the Emirates, as reported by Turkish publication Aksam.
We signed Welbeck from Manchester United last season for £16m (via BBC), and he didn’t exactly set the league alight. He worked hard whenever he was on the pitch, but he didn’t do enough to justify his price tag.
It would be strange for us to take a loss on the England international after just a single season though, so Besiktas’ reported £7-10.6m offer (via Aksam) seems unlikely to be accepted.
The former Old Trafford star threatened to blossom into a truly top player at times, with his vital goal against his old club in the FA Cup and his hat-trick in the Champions League showing glimpses of real quality.
He didn’t do enough when given the chance up front though, and his finishing and first touch leave a lot to be desired.
SEE MORE:
Arsenal transfer news
Don't Miss:
- [Team news] Arsenal line up vs Wolves – Arteta’s dilemma with three out
- [Player ratings] Molde 0-3 Arsenal – Balogun scores as Gunners cruise
- Arteta reveals contract talks for starlet who’s part of Arsenal’s ‘DNA’
We could certainly improve on the 24-year-old, and he arguably shouldn’t be anywhere near the starting XI. He is a solid squad player however, so unless Arsene Wenger has plans to replace him, we certainly shouldn’t be thinking of selling – especially at a loss.
The funds are there if we want to bring in another marquee signing, so if Welbeck does head for the exit then surely it will be to make way for a player who could improve the squad. We’ve been linked with the likes of Robert Lewandowski and Karim Benzema recently (via The Telegraph), so Welbeck may find himself slipping further down the pecking order if he doesn’t leave.
COMMENTS