Arsenal and Tottenham Alerted After Louis Van Gaal 'Axes Manchester United Striker Danny Welbeck'

Louis van Gaal has reportedly told Danny Welbeck he can leave Manchester United, with Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur waiting in the wings to sign the striker.

United fan Welbeck had become a regular under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson but grew increasingly frustrated as a substitute under David Moyes.

Now new manager Van Gaal has given the green light for the forward to leave Old Trafford as he does not envisage many first-team opportunities for the 23-year-old and has given permission for the England international to continue his career elsewhere, reports the Evening Standard.

The news has alerted north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, who are both looking to add to their respective strike forces before the transfer window closes and, considering his international pedigree and age, might view his reputed £15m price tag as good value.

The Standard quotes a United source saying: "United are happy to let him go but would prefer it was to a club that won't be fighting for a Champions League place by the end of the season.

"But the reality is that there are plenty of top clubs who will be very interested in signing Danny."

The United youth product grew up as a striker but has been deployed on the flanks by both club and country for his ability to quickly launch defence into attack using his pace.

His unnatural instinct in front of goal has also seen other strikers, chiefly Wayne Rooney, used ahead of him.

Welbeck burst on to the scene in November 2008 when he scored his first league goal for the club with a 30-yard strike against Stoke.

A successful loan spell at Sunderland under Steve Bruce led to him being recalled by Ferguson, who often partnered him alongside Rooney at the expensive of the then club-record signing Dimitar Berbatov during the 2010/11 campaign.

Welbeck has often been criticised for not scoring enough goals, especially compared with Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge, something his record of 20 goals in 90 apperances would attest to.

But his versatility and energy has seemingly caught the attention of Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino, who are looking to capatilise on the uncertainty of United under Van Gaal with a bid to take him to London.