Ten Hag Suggests Weghorst Could be Manchester United's Next Striking Sensation

Ten Hag Suggests Weghorst Could be Manchester United’s Next Striking Sensation

Wout Weghorst has been on loan at Manchester United from Burnley since January, and Erik ten Hag is pleased with his performance.

Erik ten Hag has hinted that Wout Weghorst may have a future at Manchester United after his loan spell ends this summer.

The Dutch striker has started 18 consecutive games since joining on loan from Championship leaders Burnley, but he has only scored two goals in that time.

Even though Weghorst will face more competition for his spot in the team from the fit-again Anthony Martial during United’s run-in, Ten Hag is pleased with his countryman’s contribution.

After Cristiano Ronaldo’s shock departure in November, United swooped for the 30-year-old, with Ten Hag told he could only deal in low-cost loans during the January transfer window.

Burnley made contact in mid-December, and the Clarets had to agree a deal with Bestikas to end Weghorst’s season-long loan in Turkey early, before United agreed a £2.5 million fee to take the striker on loan for the rest of the season.

Burnley are willing to sell Weghorst in the summer and were pleased to see him put himself in the shop window during his time at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag is now considering making the switch permanent this summer.

“Of course [he could stay permanently] and I think he is doing a lot of elements of football [I like] – doing them well. And he’s doing a really good job for us,” he said.

“Pressing: he is the leader of the process in pressing, starts the press, very good in backward pressing. He is taking up positions, his link-up play he’s doing well. He is making good movements, making space for others, so he’s also good in set-plays, so he is contributing to this team.

“I think after Christmas we play 25 games and we lost two and he played almost all of the games so he is part of the success.”