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Manchester United have approached Burnley about signing striker Wott Wighorst on loan – but why is there international demand for the Dutchman?
The 30-year-old is currently on loan at Besiktas and the Turkish club are said to be seeking compensation before a deal is reached.
United are desperate to sign a striker on loan during the January window after severing ties with Cristiano Ronaldo during the World Cup following the player’s explosive interview with Piers Morgan in which he criticized the club and manager Erik ten Hag.
Image: Wout Weghorst celebrates after scoring the late equalizer for the Netherlands
Weghorst appeared to wave an emotional farewell to the club’s fans after scoring in the 2-1 Super Lig win over Kasimpasa at the weekend.
The striker scored twice for the Netherlands in the World Cup quarter-final against eventual winners Argentina, the second goal being arguably one of the most spectacular in the competition’s history – tying the scores from an innovative free-kick pass to send the match into extra time.
Weghorst clubs
Besiktas (loan) Burnley Wolfsburg Heracles Willem II FC Emine Ditto
The former Wolfsburg star scored eight goals and recorded four assists in 16 league matches.
Those figures are a stark contrast to his comeback in the Premier League with Burnley last season, when he scored just two goals in 20 appearances – but his wider play over that period provides clues to Ten Hag’s current interest in the player.
The graphic below shows every shot and chance Weghorst created at Burnley last season and reveals he fired shots on target just nine times from 25 attempts across 20 matches – the equivalent of an 8% conversion rate or 728 minutes per goal.
However, the Netherlands striker was at the forefront of a struggling Burnley side – eventually succumbing to relegation after six successive years in the top flight, with the club sacking long-term manager Sean Dyche in mid-April last year.
Take a look at the best of Wout Weghorst in the Premier League as Manchester United explore the possibility of signing the Burnley striker on loan. pressure and play
Ten Hag has repeatedly hinted at raising his team’s intensity levels, both in the press and in covering the tough arenas.
The Dutch coach had a difficult start at the club, losing to Brighton on the first day before suffering a shock 4-0 defeat against Brentford.
Image: Weghorst was prolific at Besiktas
The Bees covered 13.8km more than United on the day, prompting Ten Hag to order his team to run the same distance in training the next day.
It was widely believed that Ronaldo’s limited game time under ten Hag was due to the Portugal international’s declining returns in press and distance running. In contrast, Weghorst excels in these areas.
The forward outperformed every player in the division last season, averaging 48.7 per game — besting workhorses like Pablo Fornals, Sean Longstaff and Diane Kulusevski.
Photo: Wout Weghorst Pressing Stats, Premier League 2021/22
Those same names adorn the chart-topping elite for distance covered, with Weghorst’s 90 per 10.69km average ranking 24th among all players clocking in at 680 minutes or more.
Stop playing
The towering 6-foot-6 forward also provides an air outlet to grab long balls and stop play – and hook up speedy cars staggered down the flanks.
The Good Morning transfer team have discussed whether Burnley striker Wout Weghorst would be a positive signing for Manchester United.
The graphic below outlines his overall contribution to Burnley last season and reveals just how deep the striker can go, contributing to distribution and providing options across the pitch, with his large frame used to make an above-average number of defensive actions in the middle third.
Indeed, the chart below shows how nearly half of his passes were launched in the opposite direction in this protective role at Turf Moor, but the 30-year-old was also ambitious to go almost as high – albeit less accurately understood.
Dangerous balls
Finally, Weghorst’s stature also provides a great goal threat from set-pieces – something Ten Hag has sorely lacked in this term.
United have scored just four set-piece goals in the Premier League this season. For context, Everton scored less, while Fulham outscored Ten Hag’s side by almost four in the field.
You can click on the interactive tabs below to explore a wealth of stats that highlight how United have posed little threat from the playing pack, which is very likely due to Ronaldo’s diminishing playing time, prior to his departure, and full-back Harry Maguire.
The chart below captures the context of Weghorst’s pressing, aerial and set-piece threat last season and places him among the likes of Ivan Toney, Ashley Barnes, Chris Wood and Dominic Calvert-Lewin during that campaign – the perfect profile for Ten Hag’s provisional fix.
Follow the January transfer window with Sky Sports
Who will move this winter? The January transfer window opened on Sunday 1st January 2023 and closed at 11pm on Tuesday 31st January 2023.
Stay up-to-date with all the latest transfer news and gossip in the dedicated Transfer Hub blog on the Sky Sports digital platforms. You can also catch up on the downside and analysis on Sky Sports News.
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