Man Utd Co-Owner Ratcliffe Blocks Welbeck Re-Signing Amid £200m Frontline Overhaul

Manchester United aimed to revamp their attacking lineup during the summer transfer window after a disappointing 2024-25 season with only 44 Premier League goals. The club invested over £200 million to sign forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo, and Benjamin Sesko, but also considered bringing back former striker Danny Welbeck, who had a late-career resurgence at Brighton as their top scorer. Despite Welbeck's experience and connection to the club, co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe vetoed a potential two-year contract for the 35-year-old, citing concerns over the length of the deal for a player of his age. United also pursued other forwards like Liam Delap and Viktor Gyokeres but missed out to Chelsea and Arsenal, respectively. Erik ten Hag had previously expressed interest in Welbeck, but the move was stalled due to managerial and executive uncertainties. Ultimately, Ratcliffe's intervention prevented a formal offer, and United focused on integrating their new signings into the squad.