Sunderland should consider Brighton deal in transfer strategy U-Turn

If Danny Welbeck decides to leave Brighton this summer, Sunderland ought to make a move for the 33-year-old forward.

2023–2024 has been a pretty depressing season for the Black Cats, following the excitement of their first season back in the Championship.

This setback presents an early chance to concentrate on the transfer market, and an expiring striker at Brighton may offer Sunderland the ideal window of opportunity to bring in an experienced leader.

A young approach for Sunderland

This season, Sunderland has been a team embodied by youth.

Undoubtedly, they are a young team with potential, but because of their inconsistency, they frequently perform below expectations. This is evident in everything from their transfer policy to their interim coach.

Sunderland’s owners continue to pour money into signing players who could become future superstars, even though the team needs an experienced head coach.

With the exception of Bradley Dack, 29, who signed with Sunderland in June 2023, the other thirteen players are all under 24 years old.

While some players, like Jobe Bellingham, have had a tremendous impact and are already fetching a higher transfer fee than when they were first acquired in the summer, others, like Mason Burstow and Jenson Seelt, have struggled in the North East this year.

This strategy of acquiring and developing young players before reselling them for a premium keeps their clubs financially viable for contemporary clubs that lack the financial clout to compete with those in the Premier League.

In Sunderland’s case, a combination of more seasoned players and this philosophy might be the ideal blend and provide them the edge they need to turn things around.

Welbeck’s experience can provide firepower.

English football fans are familiar with the name Danny Welbeck because he played for Man United, Arsenal, Watford, Sunderland, and Brighton.

In addition, he has scored 16 goals in 42 games for his country, having last received a cap under Gareth Southgate in 2018.

Though the 33-year-old’s contract at the Amex expires this summer, Sunderland has a sneaking opportunity to approach the two-time FA Cup winner about a deal at the Stadium of Light.

This may present Welbeck with the chance to take the lead on a team that will be competing for a promotion.

Since making his Manchester United debut in 2008, he has only had three seasons with ten or more goals due to his frequent having to play second fiddle throughout his career.

However, the opportunity to play regularly could ignite the Englishman, and a move down to the Championship would almost certainly result in a significant increase in his goal total.

This would be a great fit for Sunderland, who have struggled mightily this season due to their total lack of an attacking focal point. They currently have very few strikers in their lineup, and with Chelsea loanee Burstow returning to Stamford Bridge, signing Welbeck would give them that. It would also free up promising Bellingham, who has been forced to play in the false nine in recent weeks.

Brighton’s mentor Welbeck

Apart from his indisputable skills on the pitch, Welbeck has contributed significantly off it in enabling Brighton’s youthful squad to reach their potential.

“I’m always there for every single player that steps inside that dressing room to let them know what it means to play with this group,” he said in an interview with The Mirror about his role. I’m here for everyone, always.”

With an average age of just 22.8, he would undoubtedly be a great role model in the locker room for Sunderland and could have a big impact on the development of the team’s young players.

Anxiety among the Black Cats

Is Danny Welbeck a step too far for Sunderland to take in their attempt to return to the Premier League?

You get the feeling that the former Carrington Academy star will have a lot of suitors from the Premier League and the Championship when his contract expires in June. Welbeck would probably have to accept a large pay cut, as his current weekly salary is £52,000 and interim manager Mike Dodds’ highest paid star makes slightly less than £17,000.

In addition, Roberto de Zerbi, the manager of Brighton, recently told The Argus the following about Welbeck: “I hope the club can extend his contract because he is still a great player, and he is important in the dressing room.”

It appears that a dispute over who can hire Welbeck will arise in the summer.

If Sunderland is able to make the transfer, they will have a striker who can produce results in addition to being in a much stronger position to develop their players.