'He can't just go!' - Besiktas stubborn over Wout Weghorst move to Manchester United from Burnely
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Updated 08/01/2023 at 12:02 GMT
Manchester United's shock transfer move for Burnley striker Wout Weghorst is under a cloud after loan club Besiktas announce publicly that they will require compensation to let him leave mid-season. The Dutch striker has scored eight goals in 16 matches for the Eagles, and impressed for the Netherlands at the Qatar World Cup. Any move will have to be agreed with Besiktas.
Ten Hag: 'Manchester United have problems up front'
Manchester United's hopes of signing Dutch Burnley striker Wout Weghorst on loan this month have run into a barrier in the form of Besiktas.
Weghorst is currently on loan at the Turkish club, where he has scored nine goals in 18 games in all competitions.
It was revealed on Saturday that United have made initial contacts with the Clarets over a potential loan until the end of the season, but for a deal to go through Besiktas would need to agree to terminate the existing loan.
That's where things get complicated.
Besiktas sporting director Ceyhun Kazanci spoke to the press after Weghorst scored the winner on Saturday evening against Kasimpasa, after which Weghorst appeared to wave farewell to the fans.
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Ten Hag: 'Manchester United have problems up front'
He said: "I don't understand why Weghorst said goodbye to the fans, why he made such a move. He is our football player right now. Our contract expires at the end of the season. If Manchester United or any other team wants Wegnorst, they will meet with Burnley anyway. Burnley will then contact us and discuss the terms of separation. If we accept, the contract will be terminated. Otherwise, it will go on until the end of the season."
Kazanci continued: "He can't just go. There will have to be a reward for us to approve the separation. I'll give an example. Burnley told us, 'We made a deal with this team for Weghorst. We give you half of the transfer fee'. This may be a different condition. Then we'll sit down and talk."
Besiktas manager Senol Gunes had similar thoughts.
He said: "Weghorst is an important player for us. It is not enough to say goodbye to the audience. He also needs to talk to the club. I have heard of such a development, but it is not clear. I'll consider [him] leaving after I talk to both him and the club."
Manchester United are casting a wide net as they look to add strike power in this January window. They are reportedly constricted finances and are thus restricted to loan moves in this window.
Manager Erik ten Hag has publicly admitted that he is looking for more attacking threat, and conceded that the club will need to be creative in finding a solution amid their financial limitations.
Names such as Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix and Barcelona forward Memphis Depay had been linked but discounted for various reasons.
Subsequently, United turned to ten Hag's countryman.
Burnley are not expected to stand in the way of a sale, but Besiktas' insistence that they be compensated for losing a key player in mid-season is the major hurdle to this deal.
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