Gary Neville touts ex Man Utd star for sensational transfer return - 'He was let go too quickly'

Gary Neville reckons Danny Welbeck would be a perfect signing for Manchester United after the striker played a starring role in Brighton's 3-0 win against Chelsea.

United graduate Welbeck supplied both assists for Yankuba Minteh's brace as the Seagulls ran out emphatic winners on Friday night. Former England star Welbeck chalked up almost 150 appearances across six seasons before leaving Old Trafford for Arsenal in 2014. After a season with Watford in 2019-20, he joined Brighton on a free transfer and has been a key player over the last five years.

Sacked Erik ten Hag wanted to re-sign Welbeck - who was deemed surplus to requirements by ex-boss Louis van Gaal - but was unable to get a deal over the line. Neville played with Welbeck the striker's time at the club and the former Red Devils captain insists the 34-year-old is still good enough to play for the fallen English Premier League giants.

"He was let go too quickly at United. If you think about Louis van Gaal, his style of play is very precise," Neville told Sky Sports after Brighton beat Chelsea. "Now Danny Welbeck wasn’t precise in his game back then, so he (Van Gaal) just let him go. He didn’t fancy him at all.

"But he’s actually perfect for how Manchester United should play. Threatening space in behind, playing off front players. This idea that he’s not good enough for Manchester United is absolutely rubbish. He’s good enough to be in a pool of three or four strikers at Manchester United. For instance, Liverpool have three, four, five forward players across their forward line. They’re all of differing abilities and different types.

"Salah’s the stand-out one but you might move back to Gakpo and others who aren't quite as good as Salah - but they all contribute