Manchester United agree deal to sign Wout Weghorst

Wout Weghorst is now free to join United on loan after Turkish club Besiktas received a £2.5million compensation payment from Manchester United to end the 30-year-old striker’s loan spell prematurely. 

Besiktas will receive the payment directly from United rather than Burnley, Weghorst’s parent club.

Besiktas had been waiting to secure a replacement before allowing Weghorst to leave. The club are in talks with Al Nassr’s Vincent Aboubakar and are hopeful of concluding a deal.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s arrival at Al Nassr following the mutual termination of his United contract in November  left Aboubakar’s future in Saudi Arabia uncertain.

Netherlands international Weghorst spent the first half of the 2022-23 season at Besiktas following Burnley’s relegation to the English Championship in May.

Besiktas also agreed an option to buy Weghorst from Burnley for €10 million at the end of the season. United therefore needed to agree a compensation package with the Turkish club before bringing Weghorst to Old Trafford.

Weghorst will offer hold-up play and most importantly, goals. 

He played 17 times for Besiktas, scoring eight goals and contributing four assists. He will offer a target-man option, as well as allowing Erik Ten Hag to give occasional rest to Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial.

He also has Premier League experience having played for Burnley in the second half of last season. The forward scored two league goals in 20 appearances for the Clarets.