Besiktas release statement dismissing reports regarding Manchester United target Wout Weghorst

Besiktas have released a statement dismissing reports Wout Weghorst’s loan deal from Burnley can be terminated for just £2.2 million. 

The 30-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to Manchester United in this transfer window. 

Manager Erik ten Hag is desperate to sign a new striker after Cristiano Ronaldo’s contract was terminated by mutual agreement in November. The Netherlands international has been touted as a replacement.

The Red Devils are reportedly keen to sign Weghorst permanently rather than on a loan deal. 

Turkish media outlet Fotospor reported the Clarets have agreed to pay Besiktas 35 percent of the transfer fee to end his loan spell early. 

However, the Super Lig club have refuted the claims insisting they expect the striker to remain in Turkey for the remainder of the season. 

A club statement read (as per The Athletic): “After the match of our Football A Team against Kasimpasa in the Super League, there was a need to make a statement due to speculative news in the media about our football player Wout Weghorst.

“The claim that there is an exit clause in our football player’s contract, stating that his contract can be terminated with a compensation of 2.5 million Euros in case of an offer from the Premier League, is fictitious.

“However, the news that the player in question will leave the team on Tuesday is completely untrue. The initiative regarding Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Beşiktaş Gymnastics Club.

“We also state that if there is a development on this issue, our esteemed community and the public will be informed.”

Besiktas look determined to keep Weghorst 

Weghorst joined Burnley from Wolfsburg in January last year. He failed to make an impact at Turf Moor, scoring twice in 20 league appearances.

He left the Clarets to join Besiktas on loan last summer. He has been impressive in Turkey, bagging eight goals in 16 games. 

Weghorst was also part of the Netherlands’ squad for the 2022 World Cup. He scored two memorable goals in the quarter-final against Argentina to take the game to penalties, where Oranje ultimately lost. 

It seems Besiktas value the striker very highly and look determined to keep him until the end of the season.

Dele Alli is another player who has also arrived on loan from England, but the Turkish club are desperate to offload him. 

However, it looks unlikely they will be able to get rid of the Everton player in this transfer window as there is no early break clause in his deal.