Chelsea is in negotiations to acquire Danny Welbeck from Brighton, according to reports from the Press Association. Additionally, the club is also targeting Jordan Henderson.
The two players, aged 35 and 36, have emerged as unexpected candidates to strengthen Xabi Alonso’s squad.
Welbeck netted 13 goals in 37 matches in the Premier League last season and has one year left on his contract. There are positive indications that a deal could be finalized, as Brighton is reportedly open to allowing the striker to leave for the appropriate fee.
In a further surprising twist, Chelsea is also reportedly in talks to acquire England midfielder Henderson from Brentford.
Henderson, who has one year remaining on his contract, is said to be available for a free transfer, according to reports from The Athletic and the BBC.
The former Liverpool captain made 34 appearances for Brentford last season and was part of England’s World Cup squad, although he suffered an arm injury while celebrating a victory against Mexico.
If a deal for Welbeck is finalized, it could lead to some departures from Chelsea, as there is already uncertainty surrounding the futures of Liam Delap and Nicolas Jackson.
Delap is currently viewed as the second-choice striker behind João Pedro, who had a strong debut season scoring 15 league goals, while Jackson was recently on loan at Bayern Munich and has drawn interest from Aston Villa.
Delap, a former Manchester City academy player, had been expected to be given another year to prove himself after an underwhelming debut campaign following his £30 million ($40m) transfer from Ipswich last year; however, this latest development casts doubt on his future at the club.
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The interest in Welbeck and Henderson indicates a shift in Chelsea’s transfer strategy, as they aim to acquire more experienced players under the management of Alonso.
Welbeck, who scored twice during Brighton’s 3-1 victory at Stamford Bridge last season, recently signed a new one-year contract in March, extending his stay until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Alonso also has Dutch striker Emmanuel Emegha on his roster, following his transfer from sister club Strasbourg, alongside 20-year-old Marc Guiu, who has only had limited playing time in the league since his move from Barcelona in 2024.
Information from PA was included in this report.