Manchester United 'have paid £2.6m to loan Wout Weghorst'

Manchester United's loan deal for Wout Weghorst has reportedly cost the club £2.6m.

On Friday evening, the 20-time English champions confirmed that they had agreed a deal with Burnley to loan the experienced forward for the remainder of the 2022-23 campaign.

Weghorst had been on loan with Besiktas and was due to spend the rest of the season with the Turkish outfit, who had the option to sign him on a permanent basis this summer.

However, the 30-year-old terminated his agreement with Besiktas in order to make the move to Old Trafford.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Man United have paid Burnley £2.6m to loan the Netherlands international until the end of the campaign, while they will also cover his full wage packet.

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The report claims that the Clarets have then paid Besiktas in the region of €2.8m (£2.5m), as the Turkish side wanted compensation for the loan deal coming to an end earlier than initially agreed.

Man United's deputy football director Andy O'Boyle is said to have been 'heavily involved' in the negotiations surrounding the loan agreement.

The Red Devils had allegedly been looking to register Weghorst in time for Saturday's Manchester derby, but his debut could now come in next week's Premier League clash with Crystal Palace.

Man United had seemingly been planning to keep hold of Cristiano Ronaldo for the remainder of the season before signing a new centre-forward this summer.

However, Ronaldo's explosive interview with Piers Morgan on TalkTV ahead of the 2022 World Cup led to the Premier League giants terminating his contract at the end of November.

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As a result, the Red Devils have been working to sign a new forward this month, with the Glazers, who are in talks over selling the club, only believed to be willing to sanction a loan move.

There is allegedly not an obligation nor an option to sign Weghorst on a permanent deal this summer, with the Dutchman having a contract at Burnley until June 2025.

Weghorst, who scored twice for his country at the 2022 World Cup against winners Argentina, netted 70 goals and registered 22 assists in 144 appearances for Wolfsburg ahead of his switch to Burnley last January.

The centre-forward found it difficult to make his mark for the Clarets in the second half of last season, only managing two goals and three assists in 20 appearances.

However, the striker has been in strong form for Besiktas this term, scoring nine goals and registering four assists in 18 appearances for the Turkish side.