Ashley Young says he is ‘gutted’ Danny Welbeck made a transfer move to Chelsea rather than former club Manchester United this summer.
Chelsea have moved away from their purely youth-led transfer policy to add some much-needed experience to their dressing room ahead of Xabi Alonso’s debut season at the helm.
After beating Arsenal to a £117million deal for Morgan Rogers, the Blues turned their attentions to Welbeck, a move that took many fans by surprise given the forward is set to turn 36 in November.
Welbeck would go on to leave Brighton for Chelsea for a fee in the region of £5million, with the veteran attacker putting pen to paper on a two-year deal in west London.
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Just two days later, it was announced that 36-year-old Jordan Henderson had decided to terminate his contract at Brentford to follow Welbeck through the doors at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea supporters got a first glimpse of Welbeck in their colours last week as the ex-England international was given a 45-minute run-out in the side’s pre-season clash with Juventus.
Young, who played alongside Welbeck for four years at Manchester United, has been impressed by Chelsea’s transfer business and is confident his old team-mate can make a big impact both on and off the pitch.
‘Chelsea have made some good signings and they need some experience in that squad,’ Young told talkSPORT.
‘He’s a really good friend of mine, Welbs is.
‘I’ve been speaking to him the last couple of weeks.’
Asked if Welbeck is excited for the season ahead at Chelsea, Young replied: ‘Yeah, of course he is. He’s delighted to be signing for Chelsea, especially at this stage of his career.
‘He’s proved himself time and time again.
‘Could he have been on the plane going to the World Cup? For me, I’m probably being biased in saying he should have, but he wasn’t.
‘He’s been fantastic and I’m gutted he hasn’t gone back to United, to be honest.’
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Earlier this month, Old Trafford great Gary Neville – another of Welbeck’s former team-mates – criticised United for allowing the striker to leave for Arsenal back in 2014.
According to Neville, the 2012/13 Premier League winner will give Alonso a ‘real option’ up front this coming season at Chelsea.
‘I said ten years ago that Manchester United should never have sold Danny Welbeck. He’s gone away and done brilliantly well,’ Neville said on Sky Sports News.
‘He’s coming into a little cameo at the end of his career but he’s fantastic player.
‘I worked with him obviously as a team-mate, I worked with him with England as a coach and he was fantastic for England. And he’s been good in the Premier League as well.
‘It’s a good move for Chelsea and it gives them a real option up front.’
Chelsea return to Stamford Bridge for their last remaining pre-season fixture against Real Sociedad next weekend.
Alonso’s men kick off their Premier League campaign away to local neighbours Fulham on August 24.
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