Manchester United have made a decision on Wout Weghorst

Manchester United have made their decision on striker Wout Weghorst, reports say.

Weghorst spent the first season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas from Burnley but had the stint cut short in January, with the two sides sharing a £3 million fee to allow the Netherlands man to move to United.

Weghorst essentially came in as a replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo after his contract was terminated by mutual consent.

The 6ft 6 frontman has made 26 appearances in all competitions and won his first career trophy at Wembley as United beat Newcastle to claim the Carabao Cup in February.

But he has scored just twice for the Red Devils and failed to find the net in the Premier League, with plenty of fans feeling as though he is not good enough to lead the line.

And it appears as though the club have the same view. Samuel Luckhurst from the Manchester Evening News says United see Weghorst as a stop-gap and are not planning to sign him permanently at the end of the season.

Image: Alamy

There is no obligation to buy on United's part and Weghorst is still contracted to Burnley, who returned to the Premier League at the first time of asking after a stunning season in the Championship under Vincent Kompany.

He played 20 games for the Clarets in 2021/22 and scored twice after signing from Wolfsburg for £12 million.

United are desperate to sign a new number nine in the summer, with the club very much having their eyes on Spurs striker Harry Kane amid the North London side's messy predicament.

Image: Alamy

But with Daniel Levy proving to be a stern negotiator, United do have a list of alternatives in mind, including Napoli's Victor Osimhen, who secured the Naples outfit a first Serie A title for 33 years with his 27th goal of the season.

They are also monitoring France and Eintracht Frankfurt star Randal Kolo Muani, Rasmus Hojlund of Atalanta, as well as Benfica's Goncalo Ramos and Mohammed Kudus, who played under Erik ten Hag at Ajax.

United are currently fourth in the Premier League after a last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Brighton on Thursday.

Topics: Manchester United, Wout Weghorst

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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