Arsenal Transfer News: Danny Welbeck Fee Slammed by Dwight Yorke

Danny Welbeck's hat-trick for Arsenal in Wednesday's 4-1 Champions League win over Galatasaray has everyone talking about the English striker, and Manchester United legend Dwight Yorke became the latest to call out his former club regarding the transfer fee the Mancunians demanded for his services.

As reported by Manchester Evening News' James Robson, the Trinidadian is appalled the Red Devils moved the talented forward for just £16 million in the same transfer window that saw the likes of Luke Shaw and Adam Lallana complete deals for significantly higher transfer fees:

"

£16m—that’s a disgrace. When Lallana and Shaw have gone for £25m and £27m, that’s pathetic.

That’s why I cannot understand the market. He had to be a loan deal—especially with Falcao not signing permanently.

You could let Danny Welbeck go on a year’s loan, get some money and have that option. He’s worth more than £16m in today’s market. Shaw and Lallana—they’re worth that much more than Danny Welbeck?

I don’t think so. Not with his pace and power.

"

Yorke made the comments before Welbeck's stunning performance against Galatasaray, during which he showed both his raw athletic talent and the progression he has made as a striker.

Welbeck isn't a prolific scorer yet, failing to hit double-digit marks in a season so far during his career, per WhoScored.com. But the 23-year-old is still a young player, with the talent to develop into a very solid forward.

As a product of United's youth academy, he was often forced into a wide role, where the Red Devils could take advantage of his raw pace. Welbeck isn't a winger, however—he's a striker, and judging by his early form for the Gunners, a very good one.

The man himself is of the same opinion, as he told talkSPORT (h/t to ESPN FC):

"

Nobody can really criticise my finishing because they don't really see me playing in a forward position too often.

Now I am getting into these positions I want to be sticking the ball in the back of the net. I am sure it's the same with every other striker.

Obviously people can say I have not scored enough goals, but you stick the best strikers on the wing in a four-man midfield and see if they score goals.

"

The arrival of Radamel Falcao coupled with the presence of Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie means the Red Devils aren't exactly shy of quality strikers, and from that perspective, the transfer of Welbeck made sense.

Louis van Gaal is widely hailed for his ability to develop young talent, but if the Dutchman didn't rate Welbeck, a permanent move was the best option. The £16 million price tag for the England international will remain a point of controversy, however.

The likes of Shaw and Lallana had similar profiles as the 23-year-old, and the duo carried far larger transfer fees. In the age of Financial Fair Play, selling young talent well below market value is simply a no-go, particularly if the buying club are a direct title rival.

Nobody knows whether Welbeck will develop into a top striker, but if he does, this transfer will likely haunt the Mancunians for years to come. The forward will love nothing more than to score against his old club as often as he can, showing Van Gaal he was worth way more than £16 million.

Follow @ReverschPass