Erik ten Hag has hinted that Wout Weghorst could have a future at Manchester United beyond the end of his loan spell this summer.
After parting ways with Cristiano Ronaldo on bad terms prior to the World Cup, and with Anthony Martial failing to stay fit throughout the season, the Red Devils entered the winter transfer market in search of a new centre-forward.
Weghorst spent the first half of the season on loan at Besiktas from Burnley, but his time in Turkey was cut short when Man United agreed to bring him to Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old quickly established himself in Ten Hag’s starting XI, but the towering Dutch international has added little in terms of direct goal involvements.
The former Wolfsburg front-man has just four goal contributions to show from 18 games in a Man United shirt, and his loan does not include an option or obligation to make the deal permanent.
Despite receiving criticism from some sections of the fanbase for his failure to found the back of net more often, Ten Hag has been delighted with Weghorst’s overall impact and would welcome the striker staying at the club beyond his loan-term.
When asked by reporters in a press conference if the towering striker could extend his Old Trafford stay beyond the end of the season, Ten Hag replied: “Of course. I think he is doing a lot of elements of football really well.
“Wout is doing a really good job for us. He is the leader of the process in pressing, he starts the press and is very good in backward pressing. He is also taking up (good) positions and in his link-up play he’s doing really well.
“He is making good movements, making space for others, so he’s also good in set-plays. He is really contributing to this team. I think after Christmas we have played 25 games and we lost two – and Weghorst played almost all of the games so he is really part of the success.”