According to Football Insider, Manchester United are not expected to make Burnley striker Wout Weghorst’s loan deal a permanent move this summer. The Red Devils were in search for a number-9 in January transfer market following Cristiano Ronaldo’s untimely departure and Anthony Martial’s injury woes. Following an agreement between Burnley and Besiktas to terminate his loan spell in Turkey, Weghorst then moved to Old Trafford on loan until the end of the season last month.
While Erik ten Hag has been happy with Weghorst’s overall play, despite the striker’s lacklustre goal production since his arrival with just one goal in 10 games, it is still being claimed that there won’t be a permanent place for him in the United squad. It is not unknown that Weghorst is a temporary option brought in by Ten Hag on the merits of the striker’s World Cup exploits for the Netherlands where he scored important goals against Argentina in the quarterfinals.
Manchester United won’t buy Weghorst despite Ten Hag praises
Manchester United are neither under obligation nor have they inserted a buy option to sign Weghorst on a permanent contract when his loan expires at the end of the current campaign. The Red Devils paid Burnley a loan fee of £2.5 million, according to Sky Sports to bring in the Dutch international from Besiktas in the middle of his loan spell in Turkey. Since moving to Old Trafford, Weghorst has started all 10 games, however he has only scored once, against Nottingham Forest in the second leg of the League Cup semi-final.
Erik ten Hag has even used him in an attacking midfield position for the last two games, allowing Marcus Rashford to take the lead. Although the veteran striker is yet to open his scoring account in the Premier League, Ten Hag has constantly heaped praise on the January recruit for his ‘all round’ performances. He told Sky Sports after United’s 3-0 win over Leicester on Sunday:
“I am very pleased with him (Weghorst), he is doing extremely well. He plays his role very well. We’ve scored more as a team since he arrived. He knows his role very well and he fills it in very well. He defends, he recovers balls, he presses. In the second half, we were better at pressing and he is the first to do it, he does it very well.
“I think he brings a lot to the team. From the moment he came, the attacking line is more dynamic and even better at pressing. So I think we improved our game from the moment he came in.”
As evident, while Ten Hag sounds content with the impact the 30-year-old has had since arriving, Manchester United apparently don’t share the sentiment. Nonetheless, the Dutch international had several opportunities to end his Premier League goalless streak during the 3-0 victory over Leicester City on Sunday, but none of his five efforts were good enough to get past the Foxes’ shot-stopper Danny Ward.
The injured Anthony Martial is due to return and could fight Weghorst for a spot in the starting eleven when fully fit. Weghorst might feel let down after saying he wanted to continue at Old Trafford past his loan spell if Ten Hag decides to let him go in the summer. But the Manchester United manager is reportedly looking for a long-term Ronaldo replacement this summer, with Napoli’s Victor Osimhen being mentioned as a possible target.