Manchester United
Premier League • England
Man Utd mocked over imminent Weghorst signing that’ll cost a ‘fortune’, as report claims deal could take surprise new form
A Dutch journalist has asked “how is it possible” Man Utd have ended up having to move for Wout Weghorst, with two new reports claiming Besiktas are due to collect a small ‘fortune’, as well as the deal with Burnley taking on a surprise new form.
The rangy Dutchman, 30, emerged as Man Utd’s primary target to fill the foid left by Cristiano Ronaldo over the weekend.
Weghorst is currently on loan at Turkish club Besiktas from Burnley, and as such, a move to Old Trafford is far from straightforward.
Indeed, Besiktas’ sporting director, Ceyhun Kazanci, recently stated his club must be financially compensated before agreeing to send the striker back to Turf Moor.
Weghorst has been in fine form in Turkey, notching nine goals in 18 matches across all competitions.
Besiktas inserted an option to buy in the loan move worth around €10m (approx. £8.8m). By all accounts, they planned to trigger it at season’s end and Man Utd’s interest has disrupted their plans.
In any case, Sky Sports report Man Utd have opened discussions with Burnley over the prospect of signing Weghorst on loan.
To do so, an agreement with Besiktas must be struck over the termination of his current loan spell. On that front, Turkish outlet Fotospor, report Besiktas are due to collect a small fortune as a result.
It’s claimed they’re in line to receive roughly 35 percent of the value of the option to buy Weghorst. That equates to €4m-€5m which is a sizeable sum for a Turkish club, especially as Weghorst isn’t even their player outright.
While not explicitly stated, it stands to reason Man Utd will be on the hook for that sum given they’re the ones benefitting from Weghorst’s loan at Besiktas being cut short.
Man Utd could sign Weghorst outright?
Fotospor are also surprisingly insistent that if Weghorst does move to Manchester United, it’ll be in a permanent deal and not via the loan route.
British outlets are all aligned in the view a loan move is in the works, so it remains unclear for the time being in what capacity Weghorst will join the Red Devils.
French publication FootMercato stress there’s no issue on the player’s end with regards to the move.
Weghorst has reportedly ‘agreed’ to join Man Utd, while Fabrizio Romano stated Ten Hag wants the move.
Offering a potential explanation as to why, Sky Sports are keen to point out Weghorst led all Premier League players in the presses per 90 minutes metric last season.
His figure of 48.7 beat out the likes of Leander Dendoncker, Pablo Fornals and Dejan Kulusevski. Clearly, he’s a player that’ll mesh well with Ten Hag’s desire to pressure the opponents deep inside their own half.
Dutch sources in disbelief at Weghorst move
However, that’s not stopped quizzical glances coming across the English channel from the Netherlands.
Dutch outlet AD provide their take on Weghorst to Man Utd today, and report there’s ‘disbelief’ in the country.
Weghorst is described as being ‘on the way’ to Manchester, and their columnist, Willem van Hanegem, wrote (via Sport Witness): “I wish Wout Weghorst a 15-year contract with Manchester United.
“But how is it possible that one of the biggest clubs in the world has to knock on his door? Why do they still have a youth academy there?”