Manchester United have spoken to Burnley about signing striker Wout Weghorst on loan.
United are waiting to hear if Burnley can reach an agreement with Besiktas to cut short their loan spell – and if the numbers work. The player is believed to want a move to Old Trafford.
But Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci has said any deal will only happen if the club are compensated otherwise Weghorst will see his season-long loan.
In a statement, Besiktas said: “The claim that there is an exit clause in our player’s contract, indicating that his contract can be terminated with compensation of 2.5 million euros (2.2 million) in the event of an offer from the Premier League, is fictitious.
“The news that the player in question will leave the team on Tuesday is completely false. The initiative regarding Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Besiktas.”
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As Manchester United explore the possibility of signing Wout Weghorst on loan, his pressing stats could be the reason Erik ten Hag is attracted to the striker.
It’s no secret United want to sign a No.9 and Weghorst would represent an option they don’t have in the squad – a physical presence as well as a solid goalscoring record at club and national level. international level.
The 6ft 6in forward has scored nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas this season and netted what turned out to be the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 Super Lig win over Kasimpasa. After scoring, Weghorst appeared to say an emotional goodbye to the club’s fans.
“Weghorst is an important player for us. It’s not enough to say goodbye to the public. He also has to speak to the club,” Besiktas head coach Senol Gunes said after the match.
“I have heard of such a development, but it is not clear. I will consider [him] leave after talking to him and the club.”
United were looking for a player of Weghorst’s profile this summer and were interested in Sasa Kalajdzic and Benjamin Sesko.
United are believed to be focusing on a loan move before reviewing the position this summer when there are more options available.
United must register Weghorst by midday on Friday to be available for the Manchester derby on Saturday.
Ten Hag: Martial can’t handle the load – we need another striker
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Why are Man Utd only looking for loan deals? Analysis of The Transfer Show panel
Speaking on Friday, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he needed to provide attacking cover for Marcus Rashford with Anthony Martial struggling to handle the charge.
Martial has had a disrupted pre-season and was unable to complete 90 minutes this term due to an injury-interrupted campaign.
“There is a reason [Martial has been substituted in his last seven games]. It’s because he can’t handle the load,” Ten Hag said. “That’s why we are looking for another striker.
“It is not a question of not counting on him. His physical load is not, at the moment, so high that he can play, every three days, a 90-minute match. So I have to manage that with him.
“We are on a thin line at the moment because the qualities of Anthony Martial are so important at the moment for our game. His movements, his ball security, the pressing, let’s not forget that. We need this profile to be a threat.
“Also, Marcus Rashford is taking advantage of it. So I’m not concerned that only Marcus is scoring goals, because I’m convinced that 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, Christian Eriksen will create and is also capable of scoring goals. So we have more players who can score goals.”
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