Tottenham Hotspur are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the transfer deadline, as Manchester United and England forward Danny Welbeck has been linked with a move to White Hart Lane.
Welbeck, 23, has been reportedly told he can leave Old Trafford by Louis van Gaal and is not expected to be a regular after Angel di Maria’s $99 million arrival earlier this week.
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According to the Daily Mail, Spurs have reportedly joined Arsenal, Hull City and a host of other clubs in the race for Welbeck, as he seeks regular first-team action away from United.
A potential deal to Spurs could, initially, be a loan move, as Welbeck weighs up his options outside the club he has been with since the age of eight. Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is apparently looking to add two or three new signings, with Welbeck towards the top of his wishlist.
Asked about his pursuit of Welbeck, Pochettino didn’t hide the fact that he watched Manchester United’s embarrassing defeat to MK Dons on Tuesday and said he hopes new players will arrive at Spurs after their second leg of a Europa League play-off against Cypriot side AEL Limassol on Thursday.
Where would Welbeck fit in at Spurs, I hear you cry?
He would likely come in as the top striker, or he could play out wide in the flexible 4-3-3 formation. Welbeck’s power and pace allow him to do both, but with Roberto Soldado linked with a move away from the Lane and only Emmanuel Adebayor as a recognized forward, Welbeck could be the main man up top. Spurs already possess the likes of Andros Townsend, Aaron Lennon and Erik Lamela out wide and bringing in a player of Welbeck’s caliber would certainly strengthen them up top.
That said, the United man struggled for goals last season, scoring just 10 goals in 36 games and the year before that he only scored twice in 40 matches. He brings a lot more to the team than pure goalscoring, but it seems like this deal could go either way as Welbeck aims to play regularly and Spurs need to bolster their attack.
Don’t forget to tune in to the “Transfer Deadline Day Show” on NBCSN (Monday, 6-8 p.m. ET).