Manchester United Target Experienced No 9: Welbeck and Toney in Focus
Manchester United’s summer rebuild is starting in midfield, but the real intrigue is gathering around the top of the pitch. Behind the scenes, the club are preparing for the possibility that a seasoned centre-forward will be the next major piece added to Michael Carrick’s squad.
With Atalanta midfielder Ederson set to become the first signing of the window – even if the official announcement is still pending – United’s hierarchy are pushing on with a broader overhaul. One or two more midfielders are being targeted to reshape the core of the team, while a new left-back and left-winger sit high on INEOS’ and sporting director Jason Wilcox’s to-do list.
If the budget stretches, a centre-back and, crucially, a centre-forward could follow. That last position is where the conversation is beginning to sharpen.
From Igor Thiago to proven leaders
Earlier in the summer, Brentford striker Igor Thiago sat firmly on United’s list of possibilities. Ben Jacobs revealed in July that United had been tracking the Brazilian, who finished last season with the second-highest goal tally in the Premier League, as they assessed alternatives in case Joshua Zirkzee is moved on.
Back in June, Jacobs framed the search clearly: United were “just starting to look at the market in the old and more experienced category of strikers, with one or two exceptions like Igor Thiago – in case Zirkzee leaves.”
Since then, the tone has shifted. Thiago’s name has dropped out of Jacobs’ latest briefings. In its place: two far more familiar figures to English fans – Brighton’s Danny Welbeck and Al-Ahli’s Ivan Toney.
The profile is obvious. United want experience, presence and personality as much as goals.
Welbeck return would hit the heartstrings
Speaking on The United Stand, Jacobs underlined the type of No 9 United are now leaning towards.
“My feeling is that if they go for a number nine, it will more likely be an experienced name and somebody that can really be a strong positive dressing room influence,” he said. The club want a forward who understands a long season, accepts rotation, and still drives standards in a squad that expects to fight on multiple fronts.
That is where Welbeck’s name refuses to go away. The 33-year-old remains a popular figure among United supporters, a homegrown forward who came through the academy and understands the demands of Old Trafford better than most.
“We have spoken before about how popular it might be to bring someone back like Danny Welbeck,” Jacobs noted. “Nothing is necessarily developing there yet but if they give that due consideration, the fanbase will probably like that. But I don’t think he’s a player that Brighton would want to sell.”
There’s the catch. Sentiment does not shift Brighton’s stance, and Welbeck has proved a valuable, versatile option on the south coast. For United, the idea of a reunion may be tempting, but prising him away would be another matter entirely.
Toney’s goals, Saudi wages
If Welbeck represents the emotional option, Ivan Toney offers something more ruthless: goals. Lots of them.
Since his move to Al-Ahli, Toney has rediscovered his scoring touch in devastating fashion, hitting 32 goals in 32 Saudi Pro League matches and forcing his way into England’s World Cup squad. Those numbers have not gone unnoticed in Manchester.
“Ivan Toney is a name that I’ve mentioned before, who Man United appreciate,” Jacobs said. The admiration is clear. The obstacle is just as obvious.
“Wage is partially an issue there because he’s earning well in Saudi Arabia. Let’s see what happens after the World Cup with Toney and if he is prepared to leave Saudi because despite constant rumours that he wants out, I’ve always been told that at football level and family level, he’s quite happy there.”
United, then, are dealing with more than just a transfer fee. Any move would depend on Toney’s willingness to trade a lucrative, settled life in Saudi Arabia for the pressure cooker of Old Trafford and the Premier League spotlight once again.
A deliberate move, not a marquee splash
What’s striking in all of this is the clarity of the brief. United are not chasing a headline-grabbing superstar for the No 9 role. They are hunting for a seasoned professional who can guide a young squad, accept a shared workload and still deliver when it matters.
Welbeck fits the culture. Toney fits the numbers. Both fit the age and experience bracket United are now exploring.
The question is simple, and it will define the shape of their attack next season: will United find the veteran forward who can live with reduced minutes, elevate the dressing room, and still carry the weight of a club that expects to be back challenging at the very top?
