Manchester United look set to complete the signing of Wout Weghorst, as Erik Ten Hag has been looking to fill the gap up front since Cristiano Ronaldo departed Old Trafford.
It is no secret that within the current market, a striker - particularly a more “traditional” number 9 is hard to come by. Simultaneously, it is no secret that for Manchester United, the reinforcements in the centre of the frontline are running ridiculously low.
With the dramatic departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia, it has left Erik Ten Hag desperately thin in his options, often rotating between Anthony Martial, Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho. All of which offer what can be considered similar profiles to one another.
With these factors in mind, it was clear that the winter comes begging for reinforcements of a certain standard and profile - a more traditional target man. While rumours of Joao Felix joining the project were going strong heading into January, it was Chelsea who secured the Portuguese player’s signature - leaving United to trawl through a market that left them with experience over quality.
Needless to say, though the solution would be one for the short-term, to maintain such form and ensure at least Champions League qualification for the 2023/24 season amongst the ever-increasing competition, the missing link was going to be one destined to be another crucial but missed piece in the puzzle of the Manchester United squad.
That is until the World Cup elevated one Wout Weghorst into the spotlight in a superb performance against Argentina in the quarterfinal stage of the competition. While his time over in Burnley was marred by inconsistencies, it was a run reminiscent of his Wolfsburg days that saw United's interest justified - when you are looking at recent form, that is.
But zooming out, and when statistical analysis is involved, the sort of player that Weghorst seems to be, on paper, the perfect match for Erik Ten Hag’s playstyle when analysing his time at Besiktas. Having what is the most touches in the opposition box, the best-expected goals rate and the most shots on target, it is clear that Weghorst is efficient.
In terms of playstyle, it is well known that the Dutchman exploits his large frame - standing at 1.98m - to his advantage. He is described as the ideal player in terms of link-up play, and movement in and around the box. With his height, there is no doubt that he also offers United a much-needed aerial threat too if there was ever a need to play more direct, something that the current crop of strikers simply cannot provide.
Defensively, his output, particularly when defending from the front (i.e pressing and disrupting ball progression stemming from the opposition third) has improved during the Super Lig campaign.
With United also looking for ambitious individuals and clear determination on the pitch, reports of late-night analysis pre-match, confidence on the pitch and devotedness to training should be a great sign of his non-tangible assets.
While the deal is tied with a €3 million fee due to compensation to the Turkish side, his eagerness to make the move happen despite Burnley’s apprehension - when considering the upsides and the nature of the move, it could be the perfect deal.
The only question left is how Erik Ten Hag will adapt to fit such a player into his system as the back half of the season approaches…
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