Dutch striker Wout Weghorst is traveling to Manchester United to finalize his loan move from Burnley after ending his spell at Besiktas.
The 30-year-old was on loan at the Turkish club but decided to move to Old Trafford until the end of the season.
Sources in Turkey said Sky Sports News that Weghorst visited the Besiktas offices on Thursday morning to sign papers to terminate his loan deal at the club.
Weghorst scored twice against Argentina in the Netherlands’ World Cup quarter-final defeat in Qatar
Weghorst will now travel to Manchester to complete his loan move to United after a deal was agreed in principle on Wednesday.
Manchester United will pay the loan fee and cover the player’s salary. The total package is thought to be worth around £4m.
If all goes to plan, Weghorst is expected to train with the squad before the weekend, with United looking to register him by midday on Friday to be available for Saturday’s Manchester derby.
United manager Erik ten Hag has been searching for a replacement for the forward since Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was terminated by mutual consent during the World Cup following his explosive interview on TV talk.
Weghorst registered two goals and three assists for Burnley in 20 Premier League appearances last season
It’s no secret that United want to sign the number 9, and Weghorst would represent an option they don’t have in the squad – a physical presence as well as a strong record at club and international level.
The 6ft 6in forward has nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas this season and scored what proved to be the winner in Saturday’s 2-1 Super Liga win over Kasimpasa. After scoring, Weghorst waved an emotional goodbye to the club’s fans.
United was looking for a player of Weghorst’s profile this summer and was interested in Saša Kalajdžić and Benjamin Sešek.
Why does Man Utd want Weghorst?
United are desperate to sign the forward on loan during the January window after cutting ties with Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup following the player’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
The forward scored twice for the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-final against eventual winners Argentina, the second arguably one of the most dramatic goals in the competition’s history – he equalized after an inventive free-kick pass to send the game into extra time.
The Good Morning broadcast team discuss whether Burnley striker Wout Weghorst would be a positive addition for Manchester United
The former Wolfsburg star started in Turkey, scoring eight goals and registering four assists in 16 league games.
Those figures are in stark contrast to his return to the Premier League with Burnley last term, when he scored just two goals in 20 games – but his wider play during that period hints at Ten Hag’s current interest in the player.
The chart below shows every shot and chance Weghorst created at Burnley last term and reveals that he shot on goal just nine times from 25 attempts in his 20 appearances – equating to a conversion rate of eight per cent or 728 minutes per goal.
Ten Hag: Martial can’t handle the load – we need another striker
Why is Man Utd only looking for loans? Analysis from The Transfer Show panel
Speaking on Friday, Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said he must bring in attacking cover for Marcus Rashford as Anthony Martial struggles with the workload.
Martial had an interrupted pre-season and was unable to complete 90 minutes this term due to a season-ending injury.
“There is a reason [Martial has been substituted in his last seven games]. That’s because he can’t control the load,” Ten Hag said. “That’s why we’re looking for another striker.
“It’s not that we don’t rely on him. His physical workload is not, at the moment, so great that he can play, every third day, a 90-minute game. So I have to solve that together with him.
“We are on a fine line at the moment because Anthony Martial’s qualities are so important to our game at the moment. His movements, his security of the ball, his pressing, let’s not forget that. We need that profile to be a threat.
“Also, Marcus Rashford benefits from that. So I’m not worried that it’s only Marcus scoring goals, because I’m sure 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 goals, Christian Eriksen will create and is also capable of scoring goals. So we have more players who can score goals.”
Follow the January transfer window with Sky Sports
Who will be on the move this winter? The January transfer window is open Sunday January 1, 2023 and closes in 23 hours on Tuesday, January 31, 2023.
Keep up to date with all the latest transfer news and rumors in our dedicated Transfer Center Blog on Sky Sports’ digital platforms. You can also follow the details and analysis Sky Sports News.