Former Manchester United and Chelsea defender Paul Parker has insisted that Erik ten Hag is unlikely to want to bring back loanee Wout Weghorst for next season, despite the Netherlands forward being compared to the likes of Paul Ince, Steve Bruce and Mark Hughes. Weghorst is set for discussions over his future at the end of the season, though question marks remain over whether he will remain at Old Trafford beyond his loan spell.
Parker explained that an ideal window for Ten Hag would not result in Weghorst joining permanently, but he remains a reliable option for the United boss. “I think if Erik ten Hag gets exactly what he wants in the summer, then he would probably not want Wout Weghorst in his squad for the next season,” Parker told Soccernews.
“But the positive thing about Weghorst is that everyone knows what they are going to get from him. His teammates can rely on him and they 100 per cent know what to expect from him.
“I want to compare his personality with Steve Bruce, Mark Hughes and Paul Ince. Three different players but I knew what I would get from them and I knew that I had to match what they were given to the team. Weghorst is just like that. He is an honest player. Erik ten Hag brought him in because he is honest. It wasn’t about getting 30 goals from him. He wanted someone who wanted to work hard and bring honesty into this team.”
Whether Ten Hag will be able to get an ideal window remains to be seen, however, as the club’s takeover process is still lingering as the Glazers are yet to confirm a preferred bidder between Sheikh Jassim of Qatar and Sir Jim Ratcliffe. The ongoing cloud of uncertainty could still affect the upcoming transfer window, as Ten Hag and co are unlikely to know their transfer budget until new owners are in place.
Weghorst could well remain a part of United’s future plans, as he explained that the club “appreciate” him ahead of talks to be held in the summer. “In those [talks] the club said they are very satisfied with me,” Weghorst told The Times. “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.”
While Vincent Kompany, head coach at Weghorst’s parent club Burnley, insists that discussions will take place after the FA Cup final regarding his future. “He’s a player from Burnley football club who has played in the top four of the Premier League for Manchester United and also for Holland,” Kompany said.
“The most important thing for me – and it’s a tough one for me to say obviously because of the cup final – is for him personally to finish the season on a high. But still, I want him to do well and we will have the conversation.”
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