MANCHESTER UNITED MANAGER Erik ten Hag is short on forward options for Saturday’s derby against Manchester City, with the expected loan signing of Dutch international Wout Weghorst not completed in time.
Weghorst is set to join until the end of the season after United reportedly agreed a deal with Besiktas to cut short his loan from Championship side Burnley.
Anthony Martial is also a doubt due to injury, which could force Ten Hag into moving the in-form Marcus Rashford into a more central role.
Rashford has scored in eight straight games at Old Trafford and has seven goals in six matches since the World Cup break.
But most of the England international’s goals have come when operating off the left rather than through the middle.
“I think we are close,” Ten Hag said when asked at his pre-match press conference on Friday about the deal for Weghorst. “But he wouldn’t be available for tomorrow.”
Weghorst, who scored just twice for Burnley in the Premier League last season, has been seen as an underwhelming replacement for the departed Cristiano Ronaldo by many United fans.
But United have thrived since Ronaldo’s contract was terminated, with eight consecutive wins in all competitions.
The acid test will come against defending Premier League champions City, who hammered their local rivals 6-3 when the sides met earlier this season at the Etihad.
“It is not coming overnight, there has been a process in the last months where we develop, progress,” said Ten Hag. “We have to be brave, act with belief and play our game.
“We took the lesson (from the last meeting) and from that point on we make huge progress. We have to continue that process.”
Diogo Dalot is also missing for United due to an injury picked up in Tuesday’s League Cup quarter-final win over Charlton and Donny van de Beek’s season is over due to a serious knee injury.
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Seriously why is every bit of transfer business for man United so drawn out? Been hearing about this for a week and its still not done. Hardly a groundbreaking signing either!
@James O’ Connor: drawn out? They not buying a bag of chips……this is actually complicated wit millions of pound involved. Terminating one load to commence another at top level football is not easily done. But u r correct the over reporting of it is sickening.
@Martin Glynn: I imagine it’s slightly more complicated given that he’s on loan from Burnley at Besiktas so there’s multiple parties involved.
The manager wants him so that’ll do for me.
Why is Martial always injured? That chap is really made of glass.
@Terry Fagan: ah he might be available for the derby. You’re right though, he’s not the kind of player to make it through a full season without injury.
@Terry Fagan: apparently Martial got injured breathing. He found it too much of an effort. Loads of talent but seems uninterested at times. Doubt he’ll be around next season