Striker target requires steep £4m loan fee

Tottenham Hotspur seem to want Danny Welbeck and Manchester United are probably willing to let him go somewhere else, at least for one season. But for those thinking he'd be a great cheap option, think again. The Daily Mail believe that United are asking for a £4m loan fee.

Any team that would like to buy Welbeck would probably sign him on a four-to-five year contract, and it seems somewhat unlikely that he would fetch £16m on the open market, though it's certainly possible. He's been linked to Sunderland and Arsenal as well, so Spurs are likely to have some competition for his services, whether he arrives on a permanent deal or a loan.

However, if Javier Hernandez moves on as has been rumored, United can't really afford to let Welbeck leave. Meanwhile, Spurs are going to have a tough time offloading Roberto Soldado, Sunderland would rather have Fabio Borini and Arsenal probably rate a couple of targets ahead of Welbeck. So while that £4m loan fee looks ridiculous at first, it's not necessarily a steal for United. A Welbeck sale or loan might not be good for either United or the taking club. Really, this only benefits Welbeck.

And ultimately, when the only one who would benefit from a transfer is a player -- not either team involved -- they don't happen. So don't expect to see Welbeck end up at White Hart Lane, or anywhere else but Old Trafford if Chicharito gets sold.