Dutch striker Wout Weghorst is traveling to Manchester United to complete his loan from Burnley after ending his stay at Besiktas.
The 30-year-old was on loan at the Turkish club but decided to move to Old Trafford until the end of the season.
Sources in Turkey said Sky Sports News that Weghorst visited the Besiktas offices on Thursday morning to sign documents to end his loan deal at the club.
Weghorst scored twice against Argentina in the Netherlands’ World Cup quarter-final in Qatar
Weghorst will now travel to Manchester to complete a loan move to United after a deal was agreed in principle on Wednesday.
Manchester United will pay a loan fee and cover the player’s wages. The total package is thought to be in the region of £4m.
If all goes to plan, it is hoped Weghorst will train with the squad before the weekend with United aiming to have him registered on Friday afternoon to have him available for Saturday’s Manchester derby.
United manager Erik ten Hag has been searching for a striker replacement since Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was mutually terminated at the World Cup following his explosive interview on Talk TV.
Weghorst scored two goals and three assists for Burnley in 20 Premier League games last season.
It’s no secret that United are a no. 9 don’t want to sign and Weghorst would represent an option they don’t have in the squad – a physical presence as well as a strong scoring record at club and international level.
The 6ft 6in striker has nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas this season and scored the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 Super Lig win over Kasimpasa. After scoring, Weghorst appeared to wave an emotional farewell to the club’s fans.
United were in the market for a player of Weghorst’s profile in the summer and were interested in Sasa Kalajdzic and Benjamin Sesko.
Why do Man Utd want Weghorst?
United are desperate to sign a striker on loan in the January window after cutting ties with Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup following the player’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
The striker scored twice for the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-finals against eventual winners Argentina, with the second arguably one of the most dramatic goals in the competition’s history – the equalizer from an ingenious free-kick to end the to submit a match. extra time.
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The Good Morning transfer team discuss whether Burnley striker Wout Weghorst would be a positive signing for Manchester United
The former Wolfsburg star hit the ground running in Turkey, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in 16 league games.
Those figures are a stark contrast to his Premier League returns with Burnley last term, when he managed just two goals in 20 games – but his wider play during that period hints at Ten Hag’s current interest in the player.
The chart below shows every shot and chance Weghorst created at Burnley last term and reveals he only had nine shots on target from 25 attempts across his 20 appearances – equating to an eight per cent conversion rate or 728 minutes per goal.
Ten Hag: Martial can’t manage load – we need another striker
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Why are Man Utd only looking for loan deals? Analysis from The Transfer Show panel
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said on Friday he must bring in attacking cover for Marcus Rashford with Anthony Martial struggling to manage the load.
Martial has had a disrupted pre-season and has been unable to complete 90 minutes this term due to an injury-interrupted campaign.
“There is a reason [Martial has been substituted in his last seven games]. It’s because he can’t manage the load,” said Ten Hag. “That is why we are looking for another striker.
“It’s not about us not relying on him. His physical load is not so high at the moment that he can play a 90-minute game every third day. So I have to manage it with him.
“We are on a fine line at the moment because the qualities of Anthony Martial are so important to our game now. His movements, his security on the ball, the pressure, let’s not forget that. We need that profile to have a to be a threat.
“Also, Marcus Rashford benefits from that. So I’m not worried about only Marcus scoring goals because I’m convinced the other players [can score too].
“Not only Anthony Martial, but Antony scored [in the 3-1 FA Cup win against Everton]. Bruno Fernandes is also very capable of scoring, Christian Eriksen will create and is also capable of scoring goals. So we have more players who can score goals.”
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