Why Do Sunderland Want Welbeck When They've Got Waghorn?
Why on Earth are Sunderland so interested in signing Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck when it has the potential to do far more harm than good to the club's long term future?
We all know Steve Bruce is a wheeler dealer when it comes to making new signings, but I just cannot see the sense in this deal because Sunderland already have Martyn Waghorn's progress to consider.
Effectively, what Sunderland's manager intends to do is help the development of a 19-year-old centre-forward at Manchester United at the expense of a 20-year-old striker who has come through the club's own Academy system.
I could understand Bruce looking for another striker if he was going to sign a player to put pressure on Kenwyne Jones to keep the mercurial Trinidad and Tobago international on his toes next season, but Welbeck isn't the sort of player who is going to do that.
If Welbeck arrives he will be cover for Darren Bent and competition for Frazier Campbell and Waghorn, if Bruce hasn't already decided to send him out on loan again after just two weeks of pre-season training.
Waghorn was told he would get the chance to impress in pre-season; to prove he is good enough to follow in the footsteps of Jordan Henderson and David Meyler. But has Bruce already decided he isn't?
Perhaps that is unfair on both manager and player, but the signing of Welbeck doesn't make sense if Bruce still feels Waghorn - who scored two goals against Munster this week in Sunderland's first pre-season friendly - has a role to play on Wearside.
You also have to wonder about Campbell's position as well givenhis impressive end to last season, albeit mainly on the right wing.
I should point out the Welbeck deal has not been done yet, but the fact is Bruce's assistant Eric Black has confirmed the interest today and says it is a deal they hope will happen.
Is Welbeck actually any better than Waghorn? At the best the evidence in inconclusive. Welbeck has played more first team football for Manchester United, but Waghorn was marginally more successful on loan at Leicester last season - 12 goals in 43 league appearances - than Welbeck was at Preston - two goals in eight.
Bruce and Black have both denied a decision has been made on whether to send Waghorn out on loan again, although there has been no shortage of interest in both him and Jack Colback, who spent last season at Ipswich Town.
However, if Welbeck comes, presumably with the stipulation from Old Trafford that he is involved with the first team on a regular basis, it would seem inevitable that Waghorn is pushed out of the picture.
If Waghorn is so highly-rated give him a chance to show what he can do in the Premier League, as support for the three other senior strikers at the club. Bruce has gambled with Henderson and Meyler and won so why not roll the dice again?
As things stand, that chance will be going to a player whose development will only help Manchester United in the long term, unless Bruce is trying to wrangle an option to buy at the end of the season as part of any loan move.
Sometimes it is impossible to work out what Bruce's strategy in the transfer market is. He has constantly said defence is his priority, and then proceeds to publicly chase a series of midfielders and strikers! Scatter gun springs to mind.
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Luke Edwards - is Chief Sports Writer of The Journal and uses his blog to give a unique and entertaining insight into events at Newcastle United and Sunderland.
He can challenge Jones, as he has the strength to play with his back to goal. He can cover Bent in case of injury, while still freeing Campbell to add pace to the right flank. And much more to to the point - he can play on the left of a front 3/midfield 5 away from home, if we were to get Ireland or someone similar. That I suggest is what SB is aiming at. Hardly scatter gun.
And Waghorn fills in any gaps.
You may well be right, although I have to completely disagree with you on the Jones bit! He's more of a Campbell type player than Jones, and Sunderland need someone to push Jones, not another Campbell if you ask me. As for Waghorn, looks like he is being pushed out of things to facilitate the arrival of another striker of the same age, which suggests Bruce doesn't have much faith in him!
sunderland need a player like benjani obviously better than him but you get the point . someone who would provide stiff comeptition of jones . and would push him every step of the way .I dont feel that welbeck would be the right player for this .
My guess is that SB continues to be concerned mostly about Jones who can turn up either with his head in focus or dreaming. But this said I cannot see any of the young lads mentioned except Campbell (depending on tactics) being able to replace him.
Most likely Eric Black is blowing smoke and who SB is actually after for up front has yet to emerge. And of course Jones will be gone if a good offer comes in because he is simply too unreliable.
My guess is that SB continues to be concerned mostly about Jones who can turn up either with his head in focus or dreaming. But this said I cannot see any of the young lads mentioned except Campbell (depending on tactics) being able to replace him.
Most likely Eric Black is blowing smoke and who SB is actually after for up front has yet to emerge. And of course Jones will be gone if a good offer comes in because he is simply too unreliable.