Man United target Wout Weghorst: Everything you need to know
Man United target Wout Weghorst flopped at Burnley, but he is dominating the Turkish Super Lig and he nearly ruined Lionel Messi’s World Cup fairytale… Everything you need to know about the 6ft 5in striker
- Manchester United have registered an interest in signing striker Wout Weghorst
- The 30-year-old Dutch striker has been thriving in the Turkish Super Lig this term
- Weghorst joined Besiktas after struggling to impress at Burnley last season
- Erik ten Hag is looking to reinforce his attacking line during the January window
- Weghorst’s stats trump Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial in particular areas
Erik ten Hag has registered an interest in signing Wout Weghorst during the January transfer window as he is eager to strength his Manchester United squad for the remainder of the campaign.
But there has been debate over whether United should sign the 30-year-old on loan, especially given Burnley pawned the striker off on Besiktas after he struggled to prove himself in the Premier League during the 2021-2022 season.
So, with the above in mind, Sportsmail have taken a look at Weghorst’s career and outlined everything you need to know about the Manchester United target.
Erik ten Hag has registered an interest in signing Wout Weghorst during the January window
Wout Weghorst is a 30-year-old Dutch striker that has caught the attention of Premier League giants United after starring in the Turkish Super Lig.
The Manchester United boss wants to strengthen his attacking line during the current window
Which clubs has Weghorst previously played for?
Weghorst signed his first professional contract in 2012 when he joined Eerste Divisie club Emmen and made his debut on August 10 against Dordrecht.
Weghorst performed well during Emmen’s 1-1 draw with Dordrecht and went on to become an integral part of the team.
He scored his first goal in professional football a month later, in the derby against Veendam. His contribution helped Emmen claim a 2-1 win.
Weghorst signed his first professional contract in 2012 and is currently playing for Besiktas
Weghorst went on to sign for Heracles Almelo before joining AZ Alkmaar. He scored 45 goals in 86 games before moving on to Wolfsburg in 2018.
Burnley signed Weghorst from Wolfsburg for £12million in January 2022. The Clarets were impressed with the Dutch striker after he scored 70 goals in 144 games for the German club – so much so that they offered the Dutch forward a three-and-a-half year contract.
But Weghorst was sent out on loan on July 5, 2022 after scoring just two goals for the Clarets and he signed for Istanbul-based outfit Besiktas until the end of the 2022-2023 campaign.
Why did Weghorst flop at Burnley?
Burnley were expecting big things from Weghorst after his move from Wolfsburg. However, the 30-year-old struggled to prove his worth, scoring just two goals for the Clarets.
Burnley fans were understandably disappointed with Weghorst’s contribution during the 2021-2022 campaign, when he registered just 30 shots on target and missed six big chances.
He also gave away 30 fouls, picked up three yellow cards and was caught offside nine times during his dismal time at Turf Moor.
As a result, Weghorst was unable to stop Burnley from being relegated from the English top-flight.
Burnley were expecting big things from Weghorst when he joined from Wolfsburg
How is Weghorst dominating the Turkish Super Lig?
Weghorst hoped the change of scenery would inspire an up-turn in form and it’s safe to say it did as the Dutchman has been a standout performer for the Istanbul-based outfit.
The 30-year-old has eight goals in 16 appearances and is the player with the most expected goals (9.8), most touches in the opposition box (118) and the most shots on target (23).
According to Opta, he also topped the charts for the most headed shots (15) in the Turkish Super Lig this season.
Weghorst was sent out on loan after struggling to find his feet with Burnley. He signed for Turkish side Besiktas until the end of the season
Why do Manchester United need Weghorst?
United desperately need to replace Cristiano Ronaldo and add depth to their attacking line for the remainder of the season.
Ronaldo’s position at the club became untenable after he criticised the club, the Glazers, manager Erik ten Hag and his team-mates in a bombshell interview with Piers Morgan.
While most agree it was the correct course of action – for both parties – his departure has nonetheless left a gaping hole in United’s attack. In fact, they needed reinforcements in that area when Ronaldo was still at the club, let alone when he left.
United need to replace Cristiano Ronaldo (middle) and add depth to their attacking line
Anthony Martial is United’s only recognised No.9 and some argue it is not his best position. Yes, they have Marcus Rashford, who can also play there, but Ten Hag is crying out for a striker.
United can only sign players on loan and without large fees, which has seen them miss out on Joao Felix, who is set to join Chelsea until the end of the season.
Old Trafford chiefs have been hit and miss when it comes to emergency striker signings, with more in the latter column than the former.
Edinson Cavani, Radamel Falcao and Odion Ighalo are among the players United have signed to fill that gap and with varying degrees of success. Fans will be hoping Weghorst is more Cavani than Falcao.
What can Weghorst bring to United?
There is no doubt that Weghorst’s height will come in handy for Manchester United. Standing at 6ft 5in, he will dominate in the air for the Red Devils, much like Cavani did in his short spell at Old Trafford.
His height will give United an advantage when it comes to set-pieces and crosses into the box. Weghorst’s hold-up play is another skill of his that will be useful for United.
The 30-year-old is also known for his work-rate. He is relentless in the press and wins the ball high up the pitch. During the 2021-2022 Premier League campaign, Weghorst averaged around four ball recoveries per 90, an impressive tally for a forward.
His height will give United an advantage when it comes to set-pieces and crosses into the box
Weghorst also causes his opponents all sorts of issues by running in behind their defence. However, he does lack speed which limits his effectiveness in certain areas.
Nevertheless, Weghorst makes up for his lack of speed with his link-up play. He tends to drop deep to pick up the ball and work his way into the box by passing.
Weghorst is also dangerous in and around the penalty area. He has a track record of scoring goals from this position and is even referred to as a ‘goal poacher’.
Weghorst found the back of the net 70 times in 144 games for Wolfsburg and 45 times in 86 games for AZ Alkmaar – but his Burnley struggles continue to loom over him.
Weghorst’s standout performance against Argentina
Weghorst came close to ending Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream when the Netherlands faced Argentina in the quarter-finals in Qatar.
Argentina were leading the game 2-0 when Weghorst was brought on. With just 12 minutes to go, the 30-year-old scored twice to level the score.
As a result, the game went to penalties before Argentina emerged victorious.
But Weghorst has proven just how dangerous he can be during set-pieces and even earmarked himself as a reliable goal-scorer for United.
Weghorst came close to ending Lionel Messi’s World Cup dream when the Netherlands faced Argentina in the quarter-finals of the competition in Qatar
Stats: Weghorst vs the current United crop
United fans have been getting excited about Weghorst’s stats. They feel there is a lot to be looking forward to after comparing his numbers to the current crop.
Although his stats do trump some of those in Ten Hag’s current squad, it is important to remember he is playing in the Turkish Super Lig.
Weghorst has scored more league goals than Marcus Rashford (7) and Anthony Martial (3). He has also registered more assists and shots per 90 minutes than the United duo.
However, Rashford has successfully completed more dribbles per 90 minutes than Weghorst and Martial has created more chances per 90 minutes than the 30-year-old.
Weghorst has scored more goals than Marcus Rashford (7) and Anthony Martial (3)
What have people said about Weghorst?
Bundesliga reporter Stefan Bienkowski shared his thoughts on the striker, calling him a ‘traditional target man’ that has an ‘excellent eye for goal’.
Bienkowski said: ‘There’s little doubt that Weghorst is a traditional target man who can happily play with his back to goal if called upon, but he can also play as a very effective No. 9 too.’
‘His sheer physicality should help a lot in the Premier League. He’s also got an excellent eye for goal and is rarely wasteful in front of goal.’
Weghorst’s Dutch compatriot Wesley Sneijder was not so complimentary.
According to VP, Sneijder said: ‘I think they’ve seen the trick with the free kick [in the quarter-final of the World Cup against Argentina], so they don’t fall for that in England anymore.
‘In terms of striker, is he really someone United are waiting for? I don’t think so. They still have 300 of those in the Premier League. It must be a stunt. This really can’t be true.’
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