Wout Weghorst: Manchester United speak to Burnley about signing the Netherlands forward on loan

Manchester United has spoken to Burnley about signing striker Wout Weghorst on loan.

In their attempts to strengthen, meanwhile, the club is working on a deal to sign Burnley striker Wout Weghorst on loan. However, there are stumbling blocks in that chase with the Netherlands international currently at Besiktas where he has scored nine goals in 18 games this campaign.

Man Utd is hoping Burnley can agree with Besiktas to cut Wout Weghorst’s loan short; Besiktas says the forward can only leave with their permission; the player reportedly wants to move to Old Trafford. United must register him by Friday for him to be available for the Manchester derby.

But Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci says any deal will only happen if the club is compensated, otherwise, Weghorst will see out his season-long loan.

In a statement, Besiktas said: “The claim that there is an exit clause in our player’s contract, stating that his contract can be terminated with compensation of 2.5m euros in case of an offer from the Premier League, is fictitious.

“The news that the player in question will leave the team on Tuesday is completely untrue. The initiative regarding Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Besiktas.”

It is no secret United want to sign a No 9 and Weghorst would represent an option they have not got in the squad – a physical presence as well as a strong scoring record at the club and international level.

The 6ft 6in striker has nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas this season and scored what proved to be the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 Super Lig victory over Kasimpasa. After he scored, Weghorst appeared to wave an emotional goodbye to the club’s fans.

Many presumed Weghorst was saying goodbye to Besiktas fans on Saturday when he scored in their Super Lig clash against Kasimpasa. 

After scoring the winner, he appeared to mouth the word ‘bye’ as he waved to the crowd.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano says Manchester United is working to find a solution with Besiktas and Burnley to get the Weghorst deal done.

He added that both the player and club side are confident about making it happen, although this latest statement from the Turkish club suggests a deal is far from close.

Romano said: “Talks will continue as the player has been very clear. He doesn’t want to miss this big chance. Erik ten Hag wants him.”

Speaking on Friday, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he needs to bring in attacking cover for Marcus Rashford with Anthony Martial struggling to manage the load.

Martial had a disrupted pre-season and has been unable to complete 90 minutes this term as a result of an injury-interrupted campaign.

“There is a reason Martial has been substituted in his last seven games. It is because he cannot manage the load,” Ten Hag said. “This is why we are looking for another striker.

“It is not about us not relying on him. His physical load is not, at this moment, so high that he can play, every third day, a game of 90 minutes. So I have to manage that together with him.

“We are on a thin line at the moment because the qualities of Anthony Martial are so important right now to our game.

His movements, his ball security, the pressing, let’s not forget that. We need that profile to be a threat.

“Also, Marcus Rashford benefits from that. So I am not concerned that only Marcus is scoring goals, because I am 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, and Christian Eriksen will create and is also capable of scoring goals. So we have more players who can score goals.”