The Netherlands striker is allegedly closing in on a January move to Old Trafford and has the potential to make an immediate impact.
“In recent years, the club has purchased an unbelievable amount of players who have not been good enough, “Erik ten Hag stated this in an interview with the Christmas issue of Voetbal International. “Most purchases have been average – and average is not good enough at United.
“The shirt of United weighs heavily. Only true personalities who can perform under extreme pressure are allowed to play here.”
Wout Weghorst, a Burnley loanee, emerged as the club’s number-one rumoured transfer target just hours after Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho’s major statements went viral in English media.
Since his arrival at Old Trafford, Ten Hag has talked a good game, emphasising the necessity of restoring the team’s core identity while demanding the best possible standards throughout the pitch.
“We needed people with personalities. That is why Casemiro’s acquisition was so significant. Along with Raphael Varane, we now have a second player with title-winning experience,” the Dutch tactician told VI.
“[Tyrell] Malacia, [Lisandro] Martinez, Casemiro, and Antony are all warriors, while Christian Eriksen is a technical winner with a fantastic personality. We’re looking for the best of the best. Any players we sign for Manchester United must be of the greatest calibre.”
However, few neutral supporters would agree that Weghorst fits the bill. Indeed, most Burnley fans were relieved to see the striker leave on loan to Besiktas last July, after he managed just two goals in 20 Premier League appearances following a £12 million winter deal from Wolfsburg.
Weghorst was unable to establish himself in the English Premier League when Burnley was relegated, but it now appears that he will be given a second chance at United, one of the world’s largest teams chasing a return to the Champions League and numerous championships in the second half of the season.
From the outside, “average” appears to be a suitable adjective to define Weghorst’s career thus far. Ten Hag, on the other hand, is not one to make hollow assertions. He notices something unique about the Netherlands international.
The United manager has made no secret of his desire for another striker this month, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s bitter exit. Marcus Rashford has stepped up, but Anthony Martial remains inconsistent, and Alejandro Garnacho is still a youthful pretender for the time being.
According to reports, United will only be allowed to sanction loan deals in the January window following a summer outlay of more than £220 million, which helps to explain why Weghorst is on their radar.
This is not, however, a last-minute deal like the one that saw Odion Igahlo join United on loan from Shanghai Shenhua on January transfer deadline day in 2020. Weghorst can provide a new dimension to Ten Hag’s team and easily adapt to his approach.
Weghorst is a tenacious presser – you won’t see him walking around aimlessly when out of possession like Ronaldo did before his leaving – and is remarkably quick with the ball at his feet for a man of his stature (6ft 6in).
United witnessed his technical ability personally as he executed a clever spin to escape Harry Maguire and Scott McTominay before setting up Jay Rodriguez to score for Burnley in a 1-1 draw at Turf Moor last season.
Weghorst will not be bothered if he is named as one of Ten Hag’s substitutes. When he came in in the 78th minute of the Netherlands’ quarter-final match against Argentina, he made the best cameo performance of the 2022 World Cup, scoring twice to force extra time.
The Oranje lost on penalties to the eventual tournament winners, but Weghorst terrified Argentina with his aerial power and quick thinking in the area, with his second goal a magnificent strike from a perfectly performed free-kick routine.
Such goals come naturally to natural centre-forwards like Weghorst, who had a scary scoring record at club level before to his ill-fated move to Burnley. He scored 45 goals in 86 games for AZ Alkmaar in his own country before going on to score 70 goals in 144 games for Wolfsburg in Germany.
Weghorst has nine goals for Besiktas this season, and he appeared to bid farewell to fans following his last characteristic effort against Kasimpasa.
Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci discussed the difficulties that must be addressed when reacting to Weghorst’s gesture on Saturday, suggesting that the deal to United is not yet finalised.
“If Manchester United or any other team wants Weghorst, they will meet with Burnley nonetheless. Burnley will then contact us to discuss the details of the divorce,” Kazanci told NTV Spor. “The contract will be terminated if we accept. Otherwise, it will continue till the season is over. He can’t just leave. There must be a monetary incentive for us to approve the separation.”
If United are unable to sign Weghorst, he will be added to the seemingly unending list of players whose journeys to Old Trafford have fallen through over the last decade. But if they can get a deal done, his presence should be hailed with joy rather than dread.
Rene Meulensteen, the club’s former assistant coach who worked under Sir Alex Ferguson during the famous manager’s glory years at Old Trafford, has aptly summarised why Ten Hag’s move for Weghorst might be a masterstroke.
“Ten Hag knows exactly what he’s doing,” Meulensteen told BBC Sport. “He [Weghorst] provides something that the other Manchester United forwards do not.
“If United need to go a bit more direct and play off the knockdown, he is the type of man that can deliver that in the box. He’s also adept at link-up play; pass the ball to him and then play through him.
“He is a good guy who is determined, a hard worker, and a fighter – they are his most notable characteristics. He’s also a good lad with no nonsense – Weghorst will put in a shift for the team. He possesses all of the traits that Ten Hag seeks in a player and will fit in well at United.”
Weghorst may not be the flashy, big-name acquisition that United fans are used to, but he could be precisely what the club needs right now.