Wout Weghorst is set to join Manchester United in a direct loan move, rather than a loan that includes a purchase option.
Many reports, including those from Fabrizio Romano, The Times and The Athletic, revealed this morning that Weghorst, 30, is about to arrive in Manchester following a breakthrough in negotiations between United, Burnley and Besiktas.
United have agreed to pay Besiktas £2.5m directly to bring the Dutchman’s loan spell at the Turkish Süper Lig club to an early end.
Complications arose in the deal because Besiktas had a €10m purchase option at the end of this season and after sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci spoke unenthusiastically to the press about the potential breach of contract.
Turkish media reported that United were considering buying Weghorst this January in a deal that would have seen Burnley awarding Besiktas 35% of the fee, as reported by The Peoples Person.
It now appears that this was mere speculation.
The Athletic noted United have agreed “a deal to sign Weghorst on loan” without suggesting there is a possibility of turning this into a permanent transfer.
TalkSport’s Alex Crook also stated via Twitter:
“Understand there is no call option in the deal. Direct transfer until the summer.”
Weghorst’s contract with Burnley expires in June 2025 after he signed 12 months ago from Wolfsburg for €13.5m.
ESPN have singled out Benjamin Sesko, Victor Osimhen and Harry Kane as potential attacking options for United in the summer as they look for a first-class young number 9.
However, United’s transfer budget for the summer has yet to be confirmed. The Glazer family wants to sell United before the end of the season as there are no financial resources left available to loot from the club.
Weghorst will become the latest in a long line of “quick fixes”, a list that includes the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Radamel Falcao and Odion Ighalo.
Ighalo’s spell at United shows, however, that short-term deals can be extended.
The Nigerian’s initial six-month loan was changed to a year as Covid caused games to be suspended.
Vincent Kompany admitted that Weghorst’s six-month loan at United is not necessarily final.
The Burnley manager told the press:
“I think with this situation, it has to play out when it plays out. Every player who has a contract with us is a player who, if he has the will and desire and if everything is fine, then he is a player who makes it easier for us than going out on the market and spending whatever amount of money.
“But the crucial part is that he has to finish his season wherever he is and at the end of the season I will have a conversation with the player, which for me is the most important conversation, and that will decide everything.”
Although there is no purchase option, extending Weghorst’s stay at Old Trafford beyond the summer is not beyond possibility.
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