should have snapped up Danny Welbeck on a free transfer this summer, reckons , who said the striker would have been starting for the Red Devils on the opening day of the season if he was at the club.
Welbeck was impressive in Brighton’s 2-1 win at Old Trafford on Sunday, helping to give Erik ten Hag a terrible start to life in the Premier League as United boss.
The Dutchman was without Anthony Martial through injury and was only on the bench after a disrupted , meaning that Christian Eriksen was deployed up front in the first half.
Given the situation, Ferdinand says the former Red Devils star would have been in the starting XI for Ten Hag and United could have signed him as he was out of contract at Brighton in June, although the Seagulls eventually handed him a new deal.
‘Danny Welbeck would have started today for Man United,’ Ferdinand said on after United’s loss to Brighton.
‘Welbeck walked out of that tunnel and you could see, shoulders back, chest out, thinking: “I’m going to terrorise these two.” That’s how he played.
‘He looked like prime time Danny Welbeck against at the Bernabeu 10 years ago, mad.
‘He was a free in the summer because he didn’t have a contract. I’d have took him. On today’s performance, no doubt.’
Welbeck started his career at Manchester United before leaving for Arsenal in 2014, but even at 31 years old, Ferdinand believes he would be an ideal back-up to Ronaldo this season.
‘If you want a back-up striker, you wouldn’t go far wrong with Danny Welbeck,’ he said.
‘Say to him he’ll play 15-20 games a season, filling in for Cristiano, gives you the legs, the willing movement behind defenders, frees up the space for the likes of Bruno.’
Welbeck has not been a prolific scorer over his career, never managing double figures for league goals in a season.
However, his pace, work rate and movement appears to be as effective as ever under Graham Potter at Brighton.
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