Manchester United Transfer News: Danny Welbeck in Dispute over New Contract

Contract negotiations and the problems they present are the hot topic of the summer transfer window, and it appears that Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is the latest victim of the trend.

The English international is reportedly far from agreeing on a new deal with the Red Devils for next season and if United are to learn anything from the ongoing Robin van Persie saga, a new contract with Welbeck must be agreed upon as soon as possible.

At just 21, Welbeck was a prominent part of United's attack last season and his partnership with fellow English striker Wayne Rooney holds the key to the team's Premier League and Champions League aspirations. 

However, according to The Daily Star, Welbeck is at loggerheads in his contract negotiations with the club, with the striker believing he is worth far more to the club than the £16,000 per week he is currently being paid.

Welbeck, 21, is entering the final 12 months of his £16,000-a-week deal and wants a significant pay hike after establishing himself with United and England.

It is understood Welbeck wants around £60,000 per-week and believes he has earned the right to a significant pay rise.

Welbeck is clearly second in Sir Alex Ferguson's strikers ranks after jumping Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov, and feels it is well within his rights to receive the pay increase.

It is believed that United are unlikely to meet Welbeck at £60,000 per week and are more likely to try and secure him on a long-term deal at around £40,000 per week—putting him on the same level as players like Phil Jones, Tom Cleverly and Chris Smalling.

However, after losing three youth players in the last six months as well as the problems that can arise when a contract with a striker is run down to its final years (that's looking you, Van Persie), Sir Alex Ferguson is understandably eager to agree to a deal with Welbeck as soon as possible.

The news surrounding the breakdown in negotiations seemingly flies in stark contrast to the £45,000 that United and Welbeck reportedly agreed upon back in April—as reported by Goal. They reported on April 22 that:

Danny Welbeck will sign a five-year contract with Manchester United at the end of the season after finally agreeing terms with the club over a new deal.

The 21-year-old has agreed to a deal worth around £45,000-a-week to treble his current salary and represent his value to Sir Alex Ferguson’s squad after breaking into the side this season. Basic terms were agreed in principle in November but United and Welbeck’s agent spent several months wrangling over further rises and bonuses before coming to an agreement.

The England international, whose existing deal expires next summer, has told team-mates that he his happy to commit his future to the club while United were keen to agree a deal before the player set off for Euro 2012.United were eager to tie Welbeck down to a long contract to ensure there are no doubts over his future, especially with Berbatov and Michael Owen expected to depart in the summer.

After establishing himself as the second striker at Old Trafford and breaking his way into the England national team at the recent European Championships, there is little doubt that Welbeck is in line for a contract renewal and most likely, an increase in his wages.

However, the question remains, how much is he worth to United?

After agreeing on a deal in November, and then asking for more; agreeing on a deal in April and now reportedly asking for more, it seems that Welbeck is the protagonist more than the Red Devils.

For the sake of the club, Welbeck and United's chances in both the Premier League and Champions League for the next few seasons, it is pertinent that a new deal with the English international is finalized and signed.

Robin van Persie is the living proof of what can happen when an ambitious striker is left with one year on his contract.

Let's just hope United can learn from Arsenal's mistake and wrap up a deal with a promising striker that could realistically have more than a decade of good football ahead of him at the club.

How much would you be willing to pay Danny Welbeck at Manchester United?

Comment below or hit me up on Twitter:  Follow @dantalintyre