Wout Weghorst won’t be available for Saturday’s Manchester derby against Manchester City, according to Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag.
The loan signing of Wout Weghorst by Manchester United is almost complete. Since Thursday, the player has already arrived in Manchester.
Manchester United was anxious to complete the deal before the Manchester derby after deciding to pay Besiktas £2.5 million to end the player’s loan to the Turkish club in order to sign him for the rest of the season.
The United manager admitted that they did not finish the deal by the deadline, but he says it is “near” completion.
For Weghorst to make his United debut in one of their marquee games, his loan transfer must be completed by Friday at noon.
The 30-year-old flew on a private jet on Thursday from Istanbul to Manchester to finish his physical.
United sources claim that he might have started on Saturday, but sadly for the Red Devils, they were unable to complete the transfer in time.
In other words, he might make his debut on Wednesday when United travels to Crystal Palace.
I think we are close. But he wouldn’t be available for tomorrow. Hopefully, it will be soon, he will be there, Erik ten Hag told reporters on Friday when asked about Weghorst.
Weghorst was allowed to leave Besiktas, where he spent the first half of the season while on loan from Burnley after United agreed to pay the Turkish club £2.5 million in compensation to sever his current contract.
In 18 games for Besiktas, the former Wolfsburg and AZ Alkmaar striker scored nine goals. Last month, in Holland’s World Cup quarterfinal match against Argentina, he added two more goals.
In the wake of Cristiano Ronaldo’s contentious departure from Old Trafford and amid worries about Jadon Sancho’s form and fitness, United manager Erik ten Hag singled out his fellow Dutchman.
Weghorst was United’s second acquisition of the January transfer window, following the loan agreement for goalkeeper Jack Butland from Crystal Palace.