Manchester United will not be signing on-loan striker Wout Weghorst permanently during the summer transfer window.
That’s according to a recent report from the Manchester Evening News, who claim the Red Devils have decided against extending the Dutchman’s stay at Old Trafford beyond this season.
#mufc don't intend to sign Weghorst on a permanent dealhttps://t.co/9UL5AtjY2r
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) May 5, 2023
After allowing former striker Cristiano Ronaldo to depart the club at the end of last year, manager Erik Ten Hag was forced to find a temporary solution for the Portuguese superstar’s untimely exit.
Opting against making a knee-jerk permanent signing, Ten Hag decided that Burnely forward Weghorst, who was on loan at Turkish side Besiktas at the time, was the right player to could help lead the Red Devils’ attacking line for the second half of the season.
Things haven’t quite worked out for the Netherlands international though. Although credited with working hard whenever he has been awarded first-team minutes, after scoring just two goals in 26 appearances, in all competitions, it has become highly evident that the 30-year-old doesn’t have what it takes to be Man United’s first-choice striker.
Consequently, with his future uncertain, but seemingly against the prospect of returning to Vincent Kompany’s newly promoted Burnley, there may have been hope that he could stay at Old Trafford. However, judging by these latest reports, the prospect of the Dutch hitman continuing in Manchester has faded.
As for which striker Man United may look to bring in once the summer transfer window opens later this year, Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane is understood to be Ten Hag’s main target but it remains to be seen whether or not chairman Daniel Levy will sanction a move for his club’s record goalscorer.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen also remains a key target but with the Italian side recently lifting the Serie A title and understandably reluctant to dismantle their title-winning squad, bringing the prolific Nigieran to Old Trafford could be equally as tough to conclude.
