Manchester United want to give Erik ten Hag what he needs after his excellent work over the last few months.
The Dutch manager's hard work has been appreciated by the club, but the financial resources for the January transfer market are limited because the Glazers family has decided not to invest excessive amounts after the summer new signings and the decision to sell the club in the coming months.
That's why they looked for an opportunity on the market, even though Cody Gakpo was the priority but Manchester United never made a proposal to PSV Eindhoven because the €50m fee was considered excessive in a market like the one in January.
The club explored many options, some complicated while others easier but unconvincing for Manchester United.
The club have involved Erik ten Hag in all decisions because sources say Manchester United have been offered more than 10 forwards after Cristiano Ronaldo's contract ended.
Excl: Manchester United have reached full, verbal agreement to sign Wout Weghorst! Understand deal will cost around €3m to Besiktas — Weghorst will join on loan from Burnley. 🚨🔴 #MUFC
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 10, 2023
Final step needed: Besiktas will only approve the deal if they find the right replacement. pic.twitter.com/3lLOoyA6h2
That was a decisive moment in Manchester United's negotiations; there were so many agents and intermediaries ready to offer players to the club, but the choice was to find a player with different skills than all the others already present in Erik Ten Hag team.
There was no way to agree with Atlético Madrid for Joao Felix for less than €15m between loan fee, salary and taxes; so the idea was to go for different solution instead of saving money in January.
That's why Manchester United got in touch with agents of Wout Weghorst, striker of Besiktas; not an easy operation because Weghorst is one of the most important players of the Turkish team, he moved there with the formula of the loan with €10 million buyout clause last summer and Besiktas initially had no intention of letting him leave in January.
So, Man United decided to proceed with both clubs; first Besiktas, then Burnley and so with the player who immediately said yes to the possibility of working under Erik Ten Hag as he was dreaming of Old Trafford.
Weghorst immediately reached an agreement with Manchester United on the salary terms of the contract; sources close to Wout guarantee that Wout dreamed of this possibility, he spoke to ten Hag by phone as he wanted a player with his skills as a cheap option for his team.
But how to manage the agreement between clubs? Manchester United contacted Besiktas and reached a verbal agreement to pay €3m fee to terminate the loan deal of Weghorst with them; Burnley have then approved a loan move until the end of the current season, while there was no issue or problem at all with the player on the salary.
To have the final green light and unveil Weghorst as new signing, Manchester United will have to wait for Besiktas to find a replacement for the Dutch striker in the following days.
The priority of the Turkish club is Vincent Aboubakar who could soon leave Al Nassr to allow them to register Cristiano Ronaldo as soon as possible.
Besitkas immediately informed Manchester United that there will be no signing for Weghorst unless another striker arrives first.
That's why the timing was longer than expected, but the club's choice was to invest in a center striker with different skills and approved by Erik ten Hag at least until the end of the season.
Of course, the idea of all the people into Manchester United is to sign a new striker in the summer after missing out on Darwin Nunez last June: this will be one of the priorities to improve the squad in 2023.
But as a short term option, Weghorst has been approved by the manager... and his dream will be reality soon.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*
