Everton have opened preliminary talks with Danny Welbeck ahead of a potential free transfer this summer, according to Football Insider.
The England international, currently on £125,000-per-week at Arsenal [Source: Spotrac], is set to leave the Gunners on a free, and the Toffees have now moved to try and bring him to Goodison Park.
The 28-year-old is looking for a new club after dismissing Unai Emery’s efforts to hand him a new contract last month, with there thought to be plenty of interest in him at home and abroad.
Newcastle United are also in for the former Manchester United man, but Marco Silva’s side have moved early to try and beat them to the attacker’s signature.
Good move for Everton?
A move for Welbeck wouldn’t be without its risks considering his injury record and the amount of money he would likely be on at Everton. He’s a terrific player on his day, but he’s had plenty of injury problems and isn’t exactly prolific. However, he’s never been the main frontman in the Premier League, so he could flourish if asked to regularly lead the line.
The Toffees certainly need a new striker for next season. They struggled to get any sort of production from their frontmen this campaign, with Cenk Tosun disappointing and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, despite playing well, never really banging the goals in.
So Welbeck would fill that hole and, on a free, it’s probably a gamble worth taking despite his injury record. Newcastle will obviously provide competition, but Everton are clearly the favourites at this stage.
This is Futbol rating: 7/10
Likely to happen?
There’s no reason why not at this stage. Unless the Englishman is tempted by a move aboard, you’d have to say that Everton are the biggest team he could sign for at this point in his career.
This is Futbol rating: 6/10