Everything Jose Mourinho said about Danny Welbeck as Chelsea 'open talks'

Chelsea have sent shockwaves around the Premier League with the news that they are exploring a move for veteran Brighton striker Danny Welbeck.

The Blues are looking to add to their attacking options this summer, and are now in talks over a deal to sign the 35-year-old, according to BBC Sport.

Welbeck has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, and ended last season with 13 Premier League goals to his name, having also notched 10 the year before.

His exploits at the Amex Stadium even prompted growing calls for him to be called up to the England squad for the first time since 2018 last season.

The former Manchester United man is out of contract at Brighton in the summer of 2027, and the club are well aware of the interest.

Chelsea are understood to be "optimistic" of getting a deal done in the coming weeks.

Jose Mourinho loved Danny Welbeck

A product of Manchester United's youth academy, Welbeck departed Old Trafford two years before the arrival of legendary ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho.

The Portuguese wasted no time in criticising the club's past mistakes when he took the reins in May 2016, and the decision to sell Welbeck to Arsenal fell in his firing line.

The Stamford Bridge icon told ESPN back in 2017: "I would never have sold Di Maria, Chicharito, Welbeck - never, no chance."

That certainly suggests that the 63-year-old is a huge fan of the qualities that Welbeck provides as an attacker, given that he felt he could have utilised him at Old Trafford.

The current Chelsea staff clearly hold a similar view of the veteran, as it is not the type of deal that fans have been accustomed to them chasing in recent years.

Brighton have little security over Welbeck's future at the moment due to his contract situation, and with Chelsea seeing clear value in signing him, they are surely well-placed to do a deal.

Chelsea waiting for Liam Delap offer

Football Insider recently revealed that Chelsea have offered Aston Villa the chance to sign Liam Delap this summer, as they look for a new home for the striker.

The BBC's report on Welbeck also suggests that the West Londoners will consider any offers that come their way for the 23-year-old this summer, in a bid to clear him from their wage bill.

The likes of Villa and Everton have both been linked with moves for the former Ipswich man this summer, but neither have yet made a concrete move.

Welbeck's arrival at Stamford Bridge would surely see Chelsea step up their efforts to find a suitor even more.