Saha says Man United should recruit a 35-year-old striker in January, and Welbeck's name comes up
28 November 2025
Transfer Talk
Louis Saha, a former Manchester United forward, has urged the club to recruit a highly experienced striker in January to provide competition for Benjamin Sesko up front.
Sesko, 22, joined United from RB Leipzig in the summer for around £74 million, but has managed only two goals and one assist in 12 appearances before a knee injury, leaving the club short of natural options in attack as Sesko often features behind the main striker.
As a result, Saha argued that United should act in the winter window and even hinted at bringing back Dani Welbeck, now 35, to bolster the Old Trafford forward line.
Welbeck has enjoyed a strong season with Brighton, scoring seven goals and providing one assist in 14 appearances across all competitions, making him an appealing depth addition for United.
Saha told The Sun: "I wish United had signed Welbeck at the start of the season. He isn’t just talented; he’s effective and incredibly experienced."
He recalled his own 2004 arrival at United from Fulham, noting the importance of having depth up front: "When I joined, we had van Nistelrooy, Solskjaer, Tevez, Alan Smith… there was depth and variety. We learned from each other."
He argued that a forward like Welbeck would help Sesko and the other attackers grow, and that Welbeck’s presence would set an example for the group in terms of game intelligence and positioning. "If Dani comes in January, I think he could make a real difference in the results."
Neville’s Take
Manchester United legend Gary Neville launched a sharp critique after the 0-1 home defeat to Everton, describing the performance as unacceptable and smelling of arrogance.
The match saw United ahead early after Idrissa Gueye was sent off for an incident involving a teammate, giving Everton a numerical advantage. Everton seized the lead before half-time and the hosts failed to respond, with Jordan Pickford producing several key saves to protect the win.
Had United secured victory, they could have moved into the top four; instead, they remain tenth, five points off the pace in a tight league race, with Chelsea second and Liverpool down to 12th. Neville argued the prospect of Champions League football influenced players’ minds and that the team did not deliver from the outset, accusing them of arrogance and lacking consistency.
He also noted the squad’s injuries to Sesko and Conya forced United to rely on the forgotten Josh Zerkzy, whose header narrowly beat Pickford only to be repelled. Neville stressed that the absence of preferred forwards is no excuse, praising Everton’s spirit and resilience as they managed with 11 players and, at times, 10 men.
In short, Neville warned that United must build real depth and defend their ambition with performances that match the talk, or the top four will remain a distant dream.
Punchline 1: If aging forwards bring the goals, does that mean the calendar should come with a strikethrough? Punchline 2: January transfer windows are like boss levels—you beat the boss by signing the right veteran and not by bringing in a motivational poster."
