According to reports from Turkey, Wout Weghorst is ready to sign a permanent contract with Manchester United.
The 30-year-old Weghorst became the main target for Eric ten Haag yesterday as the Dutchman sought to add a physical central striker to his team.
The 6ft 6in striker is currently on loan from Super League club Besiktas from championship side Burnley following the Clarets’ relegation from the Premier League last season.
Since there is no recall clause in Weghorst’s loan agreement with Besiktas, the proposed deal is complicated, which has already been made clear by the club’s general manager, Jeyhun Kazanji.
Considering that United was only able to get a loan in January this year due to the alleged cost overruns in the summer (in fact, the Glazer family never invested in the club and finally completely exhausted the available finances), it becomes even more difficult to solve this problem.
The Turkish publication Fotospor claims that United are going to appease Besiktas by offering Burnley a permanent transfer fee for Weghorst and donating a percentage to his adopted club.
The report says that United will pay Burnley about 11.5 million euros for Weghorst’s permanent services, 35% of which Burnley will award Besiktas as compensation.
This package of reparations of about 4 million euros will please Kazanji. The General Manager strongly opposed any such termination of the contract to be carried out easily, and said after the last match of Besiktas with Kasimpasha:
“[If] Burnley told us:” We signed a contract with this team at Weghorst. We’ll give you half the fee.
“For example — it may be another state — but then we will sit down and talk.”
Fotosport also claims that the head coach of Besiktas, Shenol Gunesh, will not try to block the move.
It is quite unusual for United to change their strategy in mid-January by offering a (somewhat) substantial fee for Weghorst.
But given Ten Hag’s desperation to find a striker and the fact that Wegorst offers another option in the future if United buys a young central striker next summer, a permanent transfer is not beyond the realm of possibility.
