Chelsea are exploring a move for Brighton striker Danny Welbeck, according to a report in The Athletic.
Welbeck has been among the best English centre-forwards in the Premier League for over a decade and shows no signs of slowing down despite being 35 years of age, appearing in 37 top-flight games last season and scoring 13 goals.
More importantly, he has the experience and dressing room influence that new Blues boss Xabi Alonso would like at Stamford Bridge.
Welbeck pursuit reinforces belief Alonso is targeting experience
Alonso attempted to bring Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka to the club earlier in the window only for the Wearsiders to rebuff their interest while free agent England international John Stones is also a reported target.
Welbeck has 12 months left on his deal at Brighton, for whom he has scored 51 goals in 201 games since joining from Watford in 2020. It has been an Indian summer for the Manchester-born forward who came through the ranks at Old Trafford, scoring 29 goals in 142 games before moving to the Emirates where he managed 32 goals in 126 appearances.
Chelsea have invested heavily again this summer, signing the likes of Morgan Rogers and Marco Palestra but they still lack a top-class number nine.
Welbeck could fill that void in the short-term while the club focus on a longer-term alternative.
Joao Pedro is the only forward that Alonso is eager to keep with Liam Delap, Emmanuel Emegha, Marc Guiu and Nicolas Jackson all available for transfer.
Should the move go through, Welbeck would be the latest in a long line of players and coaches to follow the well-trodden path from Brighton to Chelsea, following on from Marc Cucurella, Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo, Pedro, Facundo Buonanotte and Graham Potter.
Chelsea are in action tomorrow when they face A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers in Australia.
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