On-loan striker Wout Weghorst has revealed he has held positive talks with Manchester United over a permanent move to Old Trafford.
In an interview with The Times, Wout Weghorst said that he is hopeful of staying put with Manchester United following his short-term loan deal from Burnley. But he wants assurances over his role in the squad before making a decision.
The Dutch striker said, “In those [talks] the club said they are very satisfied with me. It has absolutely not been communicated with me that Man United don’t want to continue with me. They appreciate my value. They believe I am absolutely an asset for the team. Of course I have heard different things [in the media].”
“I have to wait and see what happens and focus on our goals in the league and cup competitions. I’m a guy who likes to play football. When your appearances are reduced, as has been the case lately, you realise what you are missing. If the club wants to keep me, I’ll have to know what role they have in mind for me.”
Following the departure of Cristiano Ronaldo last year, Weghorst was signed on a temporary basis from Burnley in January. Weghorst cut short a loan spell with Turkish side Besiktas in order to join United, who paid around £2.5 million to sign the forward.
Weghorst’s work rate, versatility, and tenacity have been lauded since his arrival. But he has managed just two goals in 27 appearances for Manchester United, losing his place in the starting XI to Anthony Martial as a result. Ten Hag has taken to fielding him as a number 10 on occasion but to little fruition.
Recent reports have suggested Manchester United will not look to sign Weghorst permanently next summer, with a top centre-forward Erik ten Hag’s main priority heading into this summer. Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen are two names high on his list. But the Dutch boss has previously said that he has been left pleased with Weghorst’s overall contribution and would be open to the striker staying at the club beyond the summer.
Now, the 30-year-old has stated that he has held productive talks with the club, who have indicated they want to keep him. After spending increasing time on the bench lately, Weghorst will also seek assurances from Ten Hag and the Manchester United hierarchy before he considers extending his stay.
The truth of the matter is that while Manchester United are prioritising the signing of a world-class striker in the summer transfer window, their spending limit will be guided by financial fair play rules, while the ongoing takeover saga could also influence their spending.
Martial has also flattered to deceive in recent matches. So the Red Devils cannot afford to go into the next season with the injury-prone Frenchman as their sole striker option. Therefore, despite his inability to find the back of the net on a regular basis, Weghorst could continue to be the stop-gap cover solution for Ten Hag.
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The 30-year-old’s six-month loan does not include an option or obligation to make the deal permanent. So if the Red Devils plan to keep Weghorst beyond the summer, a transfer fee must also be negotiated with Burnley, who are unlikely to let him go for less than £10 million, having just been promoted back to the top-flight.
