Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck has joined Sunderland on a season-long loan after the 19-year-old forward agreed the deal today. Longsight-born Welbeck underwent a medical at the Stadium of Light following United’s move to secure Portuguese forward Bébé on a long-term deal yesterday. Welbeck faced an intense fight for a place at United.
Welbeck, always unlikely to figure heavily in Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans this season, joins Steve Bruce’s side after the departure of Kenwyne Jones’ to Stoke City. The United player will team up with former Red Fraizer Campbell and Darren Bent in Sunderland’s strikeforce this season.
“I’m delighted to be able to come to Sunderland – I’ve come here to get some experience and I’m looking forward to it,” he told SAFC TV.
“Sunderland are a big club. They have been in the Premier League for a few years now. I’m hungry and determined to make an impression here.”
Welbeck has made 24 appearances and scored five goals for United but failed to progress last season after successive injuries, including a knee problem picked up while on loan at Preston North End. It completed a campaign of frustration for the player whom Ferguson had tipped as a potential pick for Fabio Capello’s World Cup squad.
“A few Premier League clubs were interested in taking me on loan,” added Welbeck.
“I spoke to Steve Bruce a few times on the phone and the words he got across to me persuaded me to come here. When I knew Sunderland were interested I didn’t really look back and I’m looking forward to giving it my all here.”
If Welbeck’s last campaign proved disappointing, then the striker ought to figure significantly in Bruce’s plans this season. Quite where the player will stand in 12 months time with so many forwards at United is as yet unknown, although a long-term deal with Sunderland is not out of the question.
Photo: Sunderland AFC
The deal for Welbeck leaves Ferguson with six senior strikers in his first team squad this season, with Mame Biram Diouf having signed for Blackburn Rovers on loan last week.
Hope its not a Rossi type situation. Really like the lad, top attitude and bags of potential. Sadly seems he’s being eased out. Best of luck to him.
But where can he play in the 11
@sidney – hopefully he’ll challenge Campbell for a place up front. It’s not as if Frazier has lit up the Stadium of Light. If Bruce pushes him wide it’ll just set the player back again.
Might be very good for us now that KJ has gone to Stoke.
He’s hungry and talented.
But I think he’ll end up starting after Campbell.
He’ll get a lot more prem time with Sund compared with ManU though thats for certain.
I heard Brucey was after Santa Cruz which may hurt Wellbeck. We’ll see though.
I can’t see him playing up front in a central position
He’ll get dumped out wide because he’s quick, like Campbell
this is juzt fucking sad really
Sunderland start the season without Bent, who is injured, so if Welbeck impresses early, he may force Bruce into giving him the nod.
Wellbeck will become the latest in a long list to have MUFC ‘brand’ stamped on his arse in the hope that it will add a couple of quid to his value when he eventually gets sold on to a newly promoted team desperately trying to sign anybody…. after that plane he took to South Africa gets back of course. He’s so far down the pecking order at OT now we are even putting orphaned tramps in the squad ahead of him.
Lord Fergal’s bullshit yoooooooooof policy
collect a player, say, he’s amazing big him up, and then loan him on because another striker catches his eye – ffs
He is good enough to play for us. Hopefully atleast Macheda gets some games.
In hindsight I fuckin hate the fact that we bought Owen.
Orphaned tramp – LOL!
Welbeck will get sold eventually _ the writing’s on the wall for the lad, which is a shame, cos he’s great player.
me too – i still think midget owen is class but it’s created a bottle neck that has totally fucked up the striker yooooooooof policy
look if welbeck gets game time at sunderland and does well, its a hell of a lot better than sitting on the united bench. there is only space for one youngster and that’s macheda. obviously bebe complicates things a bit.
and hopefully owen sees no game time this year and lets his contract lapse. but thats obviously wishful thinking
So much for the ‘he’s good enough to make the world cup squad’ quote from Fergie..
At least it’s only a loan. Hopefully he’ll come back more experienced and when we have fucked off Owen, Diouf and any other whim which Fergie has bought.
You might be able to add Bebe to the list there
owen is gonna be the new fergie love child – fergus takes every opportunity to bum him up, if he is fit – he will be first choice on the bench
and berbatov, Hernandez etc
He could end up like Rossi. Loaning him out could do absolutely nothing for him.
Fergie does talk shit. Has he developed Alzheimers that he cannot remember the future England star he spoke so lovingly about.
Cunt.