Man Utd borrowed 1m97 tall striker
In January 2022, Weghorst joined English Premier League club Burnley on a three-and-a-half year contract with a fee of 14.5 million USD. But in the summer of 2022, after Burnley was relegated, the Dutch striker went to Turkey to play for Besiktas on a one-year loan contract with an option to buy. Therefore, Man Utd needs Besiktas' approval to cancel the original deal.
On the evening of January 10, the British Guardian newspaper reported that Man Utd agreed to pay more than $ 3 million for Besiktas to terminate the Weghorst loan contract from Burnley. The 1m97-tall striker also reached a personal agreement with the Old Trafford team, and the deal will be approved once Besiktas finds a replacement.
Also according to this newspaper, Besiktas' top target is Vincent Aboubakar - the striker is playing for Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia. The 30-year-old Cameroonian striker is in need of liquidation for Al Nassr to register rookie Cristiano Ronaldo to play in the Saudi Pro League season 2022-2023.
On Transfermarkt, Aboubakar is still on the payroll of Al Nassr and has a contract until the summer of 2024. He is valued at more than 5 million USD. Before that, Man Utd was also told to borrow Aboubakar for six months.
Weghorst played for local clubs Emmen, Heracles Almelo, AZ before going to Germany to play for Wolfsburg in the 2018-2022 period. The 30-year-old striker scored twice in 20 Burnley Premier League games in the second half of last season, then scored nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas in the first half of this season. At the 2022 World Cup, he made four substitutions and scored twice against Argentina in the quarter-finals to send the game into extra time. But the Netherlands lost in the penalty shootout.
Coach Erik ten Hag has repeatedly revealed that he wants to recruit a striker to replace Ronaldo. Weghorst is considered a short-term solution suitable for Man Utd's limited budget. His height of 1m97 can bring tactical options and different approaches to Man Utd.
Once the deal is approved, Weghorst will be Man Utd's second rookie in the January 2022 transfer window. Previously, the Old Trafford owner also borrowed goalkeeper Jack Butland from Crystal Palace on a six-month contract.
