Chelsea has agreed personal terms with Brighton & Hove Albion striker Danny Welbeck as part of a new transfer strategy targeting experienced players, according to reports.
The 35-year-old forward is one of three veteran targets, alongside Brentford midfielder Jordan Henderson and Crystal Palace defender Maxence Lacroix.
Shift in Recruitment Policy
The pursuit of experienced talent marks a significant change for Chelsea, whose recent recruitment under the BlueCo consortium focused heavily on younger prospects.
After the 2022 takeover, high-profile veteran signings such as Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang struggled at Stamford Bridge.
This led the club to invest substantially in younger stars like Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo.
However, following a 10th-place Premier League finish last season despite winning the Conference League and Club World Cup, Chelsea's hierarchy is now targeting immediate leadership.
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The club is reportedly pursuing 26-year-old Lacroix for £52 million, alongside Henderson and Welbeck.
Brighton is not expected to unduly block Welbeck's move as negotiations over a transfer fee continue.
Welbeck has scored six goals in his last seven Premier League appearances against Chelsea.
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The potential acquisition of Welbeck could signal a departure for forward Nicolas Jackson, alongside Marc Guiu, while the future of 23-year-old Liam Delap remains uncertain.
