Despite having trouble scoring goals, Wout Weghorst has praised his work for Manchester United, saying he is "absolutely an asset" to the team.
Cristiano Ronaldo's contract was terminated mid-season, so Weghorst was brought in as a cost-effective substitute. He was brought in on loan from Burnley. In 27 games for the club in all competitions, he was only able to produce two goals and two assists, and he received criticism from both fans and analysts for his lack of impact.
Rio Ferdinand said that he "doesn't offer anything" after being replaced 57 minutes into the Saturday loss to West Ham. At the completion of the current campaign, the Dutchman's loan agreement expires.
However, Weghorst claims that there have been discussions about a permanent deal, which is evidence that he is working hard for the squad.
"In those [talks] the club said they are very satisfied with me,” he told The Times after the West Ham game. “It has absolutely not been communicated with me that Man United don’t want to continue with me."
“They appreciate my value. They believe I am absolutely an asset for the team. Of course I have heard different things [in the media]. I have to wait and see what happens and focus on our goals in the league and cup competitions."
Although he has defended him, Weghorst has not scored in 14 Premier League games for United, and there are indications that Erik ten Hag is drifting away from the 30-year-old. After his arrival, he started nine consecutive Premier League games, but only one of the last seven after Anthony Martial returned to fitness.
Weghorst will look for reassurance from Ten Hag and the United hierarchy before he contemplates extending his stay after spending an increasing amount of time on the substitutes' bench.
“I’m a guy who likes to play football,” he added. “When your appearances are reduced, as has been the case lately, you realise what you are missing,” he said. “If the club wants to keep me, I’ll have to know what role they have in mind for me.”
United is prioritizing the acquisition of a top-tier striker during the summer transfer window, but will be constrained by financial fair play regulations, and their spending may also be affected by the ongoing takeover saga.
Weghorst has struggled to score, thus Ten Hag has started using him occasionally as a No10. He justified the tactical choice in March by saying, "I think he has intelligence from positions, he is a very good anticipator."
“Of course I tell him to [help] linking up there, which he is also doing as a high striker. But in that position, [he is] linking up and getting in front of the goal when crosses are coming in. As for the rest, there is the defending part which he is also very good [at].”
Wout Weghorst's future isn't the only player in Manchester United's squad being discussed. David De Gea and Anthony Martial have reportedly caused a division amongst the Old Trafford's hierarchy regarding the decisions about their places in the team.
Manchester United's chances of finishing in the top four have diminished as the takeover situation drags on after they lost to West Ham on Sunday for the second time in a row.
Three days after losing 1-0 to Brighton on Thursday due to Luke Shaw's late penalty giveaway, United was defeated 1-0 by West Ham as a result of David de Gea's horrible error.
Erik ten Hag's team now leads fifth-placed Liverpool by just one point, despite having a game in hand. However, if they cannot win again against Wolves the following weekend, they risk not making the Champions League.
Alan Shearer has branded Anthony Martial "not good enough" for Manchester United after he missed two huge chances against West Ham. "Whatever your opinion is, I think he's had enough time Martial," Shearer told Premier League Productions.
"You don't need to make any big decision on him because I think the decision has already been made or it should already have been made. He's been there long enough, he's had enough chances.
"He's not good enough to take Manchester United to where they want to go. If he was good enough he would be starting on a regular basis and he would be scoring goals. He's had his time and it hasn’t worked for him, that's my opinion. We could have been sat here for another few hours and we never felt that they were going to find the back of the net."
As for David De Gea, He has now made more mistakes that directly led to goals this season than any other Premier League player after allowing Said Benrahma to score in United's 1-0 loss to West Ham at the weekend.
The goalkeeper's contract expires at the end of the current campaign, and despite Ten Hag's public support for him following the game, his future is still up in the air. Senior United officials are wary of De Gea, and his position as the best goalkeeper is in jeopardy.
Currently in negotiations with United for a new contract, the Spanish player has been offered a big pay cut from £375,000 to roughly £200,000 per week. However, some club members wonder whether it would be wise to renew his contract, even with alterations.
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