Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a surprise loan move for Burnley striker Wout Weghorst.
The Red Devils are in the market for a new striker in the January transfer window following the contract termination and acrimonious exit of Cristiano Ronaldo.
Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford have been left as the club's only two senior options through the middle, and Erik ten Hag's side have been linked with a host of names in recent weeks.
According to ESPN, the latest striker to emerge onto Man United's radar is Weghorst, who is currently on loan at Turkish giants Besiktas from Championship side Burnley.
Weghorst left Wolfsburg in January to join the Clarets, but he was unsuccessful in trying to help them stave off relegation from the Premier League and left for Besiktas on a season-long loan.
The 30-year-old has made a positive impression in the Super Lig with eight goals and four assists from 16 appearances, and the report claims that Man United would be interested in a loan deal until the end of the season.
Man United are said to have already held talks with Burnley, who would have to recall Weghorst from his loan spell in Turkey, over a move, and the 6'5" Dutchman is open to a move to Old Trafford.
Rather than spend big on a new centre-forward in January, Man United have apparently identified Weghorst as an ideal short-term solution before reinforcing their squad further ahead of the 2023-24 season.
Weghorst's most recent goal for Besiktas propelled them to a 2-1 win over Kasimpasa on Saturday, and he gave an emotional celebration to the fans after netting his stoppage-time strike.
The Netherlands international appeared to be on the verge of tears as he saluted supporters and kissed the badge on his shirt, but Besiktas manager Senol Gunes played down the gesture.
"I did not see Wout Weghorst's move and I do not know. I cannot speak what I do not know. Wout plays from the heart. He contributes," Gunes told reporters after the game.
"I do not find it appropriate to talk about someone's future, there is no such thing on our agenda. We are focused on the Konyaspor match."
Weghorst, who scored two goals as a substitute in the Netherlands' World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina, has managed just two goals and three assists from 20 games in a Burnley jersey.
The likes of Joao Felix, Memphis Depay, Olivier Giroud and Vincent Aboubakar have also been mentioned as possible targets for Man United, who are alleged to have already agreed a short-term deal with the latter.
Aboubakar could be allowed to depart Al-Nassr following the arrival of Ronaldo, who left Man United for a second time after launching a scathing attack on the club during an interview with Piers Morgan. body check tags ::
