Wout Weghorst: Man Utd striker set for surprise summer transfer

James Shearman

• 9 Mar 2023 16:54 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst could complete a shock move in the next transfer window.

Weghorst has been linked with a return to Turkish Super Lig club Besiktas by Sportskeeda.

The Dutchman is on loan at United, who have an option to sign him permanently, until the end of the season.

MORE: Mount joins Bellingham and Kane on Man Utd's summer transfer wish list

But they are not expected to take up the option with the striker scoring just once in 14 appearances in all competitions.

The Red Devils have fared well with Weghorst in the side but he is not the long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo that manager Erik ten Hag is looking for.

Weghorst criticism

Richard Keys has suggested that the 30-year-old is the poorest player ever to wear the shirt of the Old Trafford club.

In a blog post he claimed: “Weghorst has to be the worst player I’ve ever seen in a United jersey.

“He’s a bang ordinary No 9, who couldn’t get in a struggling Burnley team, but what on earth possesses Seven Hag to think he’s a sumptuous 10?

“One who can ‘wear the tuxedo’ as the Americans say. Come on. It’s a joke and the manager has got to give up pretending that Weghorst has got something to offer.”

FootballTransfers, in conjunction with data analytics experts SciSports, give Weghorst a skill rating of 69.8, and at the age of 30 this is not projected to get any better.

He does hold a higher current skill score than some of his team-mates, but of the outfielders on Man Utd’s books, his top potential of 69.8 is the lowest score – with the exception of Phil Jones.