Manchester United's Search for Experienced Striker: Welbeck and Toney
Manchester United’s summer rebuild is starting to take shape, and the next piece of the puzzle looks increasingly likely to be an old‑fashioned, battle‑hardened No 9.
With Atalanta midfielder Ederson set to become the club’s first signing of the window – even if the official announcement is still pending – the focus inside Old Trafford is already stretching beyond the midfield revamp being led by Michael Carrick, INEOS and sporting director Jason Wilcox. One or two more midfielders remain on the list, as do a new left-back and a left-winger. If the budget holds, a centre-back could follow.
But the growing noise is around the top of the pitch.
From Igor Thiago to a different profile
Earlier in the summer, Brentford’s Igor Thiago sat firmly on United’s radar. Ben Jacobs revealed in July that United had been tracking the striker, who finished last season with the second-highest goal tally in the Premier League, as a possible option should Joshua Zirkzee be moved on.
Back in June, Jacobs outlined the early thinking.
“While it is very initial and player-led at this stage, Man Utd are 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,” he said.
That line told its own story: United were open to a younger, high-ceiling forward, but only as an exception. The priority was clearly a seasoned figure who understands the grind of a long season and the demands of a dressing room under scrutiny.
Now the picture has sharpened – and Thiago’s name is no longer in the frame.
Welbeck return floated, but Brighton hold firm
In Jacobs’ latest update, delivered on The United Stand, two very different but equally familiar names have emerged: Danny Welbeck and Ivan Toney.
“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,” Jacobs explained. “And come in during a long season knowing that they maybe won’t play every single game, but they’re ok with that role and responsibility in a season when Man United will hope to challenge on multiple fronts.”
That description is not about a marquee, guaranteed‑starter signing. It is about a stabiliser. A leader. Someone who can accept rotation, set standards, and still deliver when called upon.
Welbeck fits that brief in more ways than one. A product of United’s academy, a popular figure among supporters, and a player who understands the club’s culture, his name has inevitably stirred nostalgia.
“We have spoken before about how popular it might be to bring someone back like Danny Welbeck,” Jacobs said. “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 lies the problem. Sentiment is one thing; prising a valuable squad player away from Brighton is quite another. Welbeck’s experience and versatility make him an asset Roberto De Zerbi will not easily surrender, and United know it.
Toney’s goals, Saudi wages, and a big decision
If a Welbeck reunion remains more romantic than realistic, Ivan Toney is a more straightforward footballing proposition – at least on the pitch.
The former Brentford striker has been prolific in Saudi Arabia, hitting 32 goals in 32 Saudi Pro League matches for Al-Ahli and forcing his way into England’s World Cup squad. Those numbers have not gone unnoticed at Carrington.
“Ivan Toney is a name that I’ve mentioned before, who Man United appreciate,” Jacobs said.
United’s admiration is clear. Toney offers goals, presence, and Premier League pedigree. He can lead the line, occupy centre-backs, and bring a ruthless edge inside the box that United have lacked in recent seasons.
But there is a modern twist to this chase: Saudi wages.
“Wage is partially an issue there because he’s earning well in Saudi Arabia,” Jacobs added. “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.”
The decision, then, may rest less with United and more with the player. Does Toney trade a lucrative, settled life in Saudi Arabia for the pressure cooker of Old Trafford and the glare of the Premier League spotlight once again? Or does he stay where he is thriving, on and off the pitch?
United’s next move up front
What is clear is the profile United want. This is not a search for a raw project or a short‑term panic buy. They are targeting a seasoned striker who can share the load, guide a young squad through a congested campaign, and handle the reality of not starting every week.
Welbeck would tick the emotional and cultural boxes. Toney would answer the call for guaranteed goals. Thiago, once a live option, has slipped from the conversation.
United’s hierarchy know they cannot afford another misstep at centre-forward. As the window unfolds and the World Cup passes, the question will sharpen: which experienced No 9 walks through the doors at Carrington – and how much will that choice shape the season that follows?
