UPDATE: Arsenal have agreed a £16 million fee with Manchester United for Welbeck
Danny Welbeck is poised to join Arsenal from Manchester United as Arsène Wenger finally homes in on signing a striker.
United will announce a season-long loan deal for Radamel Falcao later this evening, and their move for the Colombian has enabled Welbeck to leave for north London. Tottenham were also confirmed admirers of the England international however Welbeck's first-team chances at Arsenal are significantly higher following Olivier Giroud's ankle injury.
Jonathan Hope, brokering the deal, says Welbeck is not interested in a loan move and claims United are holding out for £18m for him. Sunderland are also interested in the striker.
Welbeck made his United debut in 2008
"There have been a few clubs in for Danny and they’re looking for loan deals with a view to buying," Hope told TalkSPORT, "but Danny doesn’t want to go on loan.
"He wants a straight transfer and he has every right to say that.
"In the last half an hour I have received some interest in a straight transfer which I’m going to speak to Manchester United about."
Welbeck, 23, has been agitating for a transfer, officially, since the day of David Moyes' final match in charge of United at Everton in April. Welbeck trained with England at St George's Park in Staffordshire earlier on Monday but has since travelled to London in an attempt to force through a move to the Gunners.
A product of United's academy, Welbeck made his debut in 2008 and has scored 29 goals in 142 appearances, winning Club World Cup, League Cup and the Premier League winners' medals.