Weghorst 'denied' Ronaldo shirt number as Man Utd save it for top target

09 January 2023 , 15:05

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Weghorst 'denied' Ronaldo shirt number as Man Utd save it for top target

Wout Weghorst will not get the chance to pick the No.7 shirt as his move to Manchester United edges closer.

The forward, who is on loan at Besiktas from Burnley, could move to Old Trafford as they seek more forward options this summer. Cristiano Ronaldo's sudden departure has left Erik ten Hag light in the final third and he wants to add more reinforcements before the month is out.

Weghorst was by no means prolific during his time at Turf Moor, but did score the winner for Besiktas at the weekend. He would play back-up to Anthony Martial, but will not assume the No.7 shirt recently vacated by Ronaldo, according to Portuguese outlet A Bola.

United chief Richard Arnold has offered the famous number to Joao Felix in an effort to sweeten any deal. The Atletico Madrid forward remains the club's prime target in January but negotiations with the LaLiga outfit are proving challenging, as they demand a hefty loan fee. However, the offer to Felix is unlikely to matter with the forward heading to Stamford Bridge. Chelsea have reached a verbal agreement with the Portugal star that will see him move on loan to Stamford Bridge for the remainder of the season.

The Red Devils, meanwhile, are still working on a package that will convince Besiktas to cut their loan deal early. They've seen Weghorst score nine times in 18 games and have an option to buy in their agreement with Burnley. The Turkish side have made it clear they want to keep the 30-year-old, at least until the season ends.

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Weghorst's loan agreement doesn't include a recall option so Besiktas would be entitled to a fee if they did cut it short. Negotiations about the 6ft 6in striker began last month when the Manchester outfit played Burnley at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup.

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Martial is currently the only recognised No 9 on the club's books but Ten Hag is unable to break the bank after spending so heavily in the summer. A loan swoop is the only feasible option for the club but their coach has made it clear they must bring in more faces to support the Frenchman.

He said: "There is a reason [Anthony Martial has been substituted in his last seven games]. It is because he cannot manage the load. This is why we are looking for another striker. It is not about us not relying on him. His physical load is not, at this moment, so high that he can play every third day a game of 90 minutes. So I have to manage that together with him.

"We are on a thin line at the moment because the qualities of Anthony Martial are so important right now to our game. His movements, his ball security, the pressing, let's not forget that. We need that profile to be a threat."

Samuel Meade