Arsenal will look into replacing Danny Welbeck this January transfer window

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Arsenal‘s head of football Raul Sanllehi has hinted that the Gunners could be set to dip into the January transfer market to replace the injured Danny Welbeck.

England forward Welbeck faces an extended spell on the sidelines after breaking his ankle in Arsenal’s Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon earlier this month and, with just seven months left on his contract, it seems the club are already eyeing up replacements.

Is Danny Welbeck’s Arsenal career coming to an end? Five things to know…

  1. Welbeck’s time under the management of previous Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger was plagued by injuries and he failed to nail down a regular spot in the team.
  2. Unai Emery had given him plenty more opportunities to play so far this season, with the forward netting a number of important goals off the bench for the Gunners.
  3. Welbeck was stretchered off in the first half of the Gunners’ Europa League match after falling awkwardly on his ankle. He has since undergone surgery twice and the club say it’s too early to put a timescale on his return.
  4. The ex-Manchester United forward is in the final year of his Arsenal contract and there have been no negotiations regarding an extension.
  5. Reports suggest that Welbeck’s time at the club is coming to an end having scored 32 goals in 126 appearances.

January is never an easy time for the Premier League’s top clubs to add to their squads, with most teams reluctant to part ways with their best players midway through the season.

And it seems that, initially, Arsenal had accepted that they would not be making any signings at the start of next year.

However, Sanllehi has now suggested that Welbeck’s injury has led to a change in approach.

“That is absolutely something unplanned,” he said when asked about the 27-year-old’s latest setback (via the Evening Standard)

“Yes, that makes you consider things. I am not saying that’s a green light to go to the market but we have good players in the house also that may get further opportunities, like Eddie Nketiah for example.

“We need to see. We are in November, so it’s a good time to start analysing what options we have in the market. We are not closing the door but it’s still not the preferred one.

“The plans were made in the summer. We are happy with how things are going. We are always going to strive to be the best team we can be.

“If there is a very good opportunity, we are definitely going to consider [it], we will see. Danny Welbeck’s injury alters, in a way, the views.”

One player that has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium in recent days is Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, who has netted eight goals in 13 Ligue 1 appearances so far this season.

Does Welbeck deserve a new contract at Arsenal?

Welbeck is a player that has been something of a laughing-stock amongst a section of Arsenal supporters in the last few years.

Many felt that his inconsistency epitomised Arsene Wenger’s final years at the club, but was it really his fault?

The forward has always been unlucky with injuries but he was a player that the ex-Arsenal boss rarely gave an extended run in the first team.

Welbeck himself has always insisted that his best position is as a striker, but he’s played most of his football with the Gunners on the wing.

Many were hugely surprised when the 27-year-old was named in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad, but the people who have coached Welbeck will tell you he’s a mangers dream. He’s big, strong, quick, works hard, scores goals and can play in a number of different positions.

The Gunners look set to wait to see how long Welbeck is likely to be sidelined for before they consider offering him a new deal.

You can understand the club wanting to bolster their attacking options in January but that doesn’t mean Welbeck should definitely be shipped out in the summer.

The post Arsenal will look into replacing Danny Welbeck this January transfer window appeared first on Squawka News.



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