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By TAMARA PRENN, SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER Published: 18: 46 AEST, 2 September 2025 | Updated: 18: 53 AEST, 2 September 2025 10 View comments Manchester United are believed to have mulled a move for one of their former players this summer as Ruben Amorim cast around for a striker ahead of Benjamin Sesko's move to Old Trafford, according to reports. The Manchester club made the £73. 5million move for the RB Leipzig star at the start of August in a bid to turbo-charge their front line. Earlier attacking incomings during the transfer window have included former Brentford star Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, who signed from Wolves. Sesko made moving to Manchester his priority despite the tempting offer of a season of European football with Newcastle, who were also interested in the 22-year-old. At the time, Sesko admitted that it had been the pull of Man United's storied history in the English game that had ultimately forced his hand during decision-making. But Amorim is thought to have considered the club's history too during the window, with one Premier League veteran briefly considered during the club's striker hunt. Ruben Amorim is believed to have looked to Manchester United's past this summer when hunting for a striker The club eventually signed Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig in a bid to boost attacking ranks As per The Athletic, the Portuguese manager and his club looked into the possibility of bringing back Brighton star Danny Welbeck - 11 years after his initial departure from the club. The 35-year-old began his career at the club's famous Carrington academy and Welbeck featured for his boyhood side for his first six years as a senior player. But his stint at Man United between 2008 and 2014 was speckled with loan moves, as Welbeck also featured at Preston North End and Sunderland in a bid to find playing time. Now one of the standouts in Fabian Hurzeler's overachieving Brighton side, Welbeck was his club's joint top scorer last season, as Man United desperately hunted for goals amid their listless Premier League season. As well as experience and prowess in front of goal, Man United are believed to have thought that Welbeck's background as a former academy player would add gravitas to the squad. Should they have moved for the player, Welbeck would likely have received a contract until 2027, with another top-name striker also recruited alongside the older star. But Man United's co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is not believed to have given his support to the deal, with the club later deciding that a two-year contract was too long for a star at his stage in his career. Danny Welbeck spent 16 years at the club after first joining as an academy player in 2001 But Sir Jim Ratcliffe is believed to have felt Man United should not sanction the signing of a 35-year-old without another option Welbeck's old team-mate Wayne Rooney called for the Red Devils to re-sign the star in March However, Amorim is not the first Man United manager of late to have considered re-recruiting Welbeck. During last summer's transfer window, former head coach Erik ten Hag was also thought to have viewed Welbeck as a possible signing, due to his status as a free agent. Welbeck went on to sign a two-year extension with the Seagulls. In March of this year, fellow Man United star - and Welbeck's former team-mate - Wayne Rooney noted that he too would welcome the player back at Old Trafford, after his star turn during Brighton's 2-1 defeat of Newcastle. 'Danny, he's great to play alongside and if I'm being completely honest, I'd would probably still like to see him here playing for Manchester United, ' said the Red Devils' icon during BBC's Match of the Day. 'He scored goals throughout his career, had injuries in early part of his career, but seems to have got over them and he's having a fantastic season. '
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