Former Manchester United striker Louis Saha has expressed doubts over the ability of Wout Weghorst to make an impact at the club.
The Dutch striker was signed during the January transfer window as a surprise addition, but has struggled to make an impact, finding the net just twice in 25 appearances across all competitions.
Weghorst was brought in by Erik ten Hag as a fellow countryman after Cristiano Ronaldo was released as a free agent.
However, his performances have failed to convince Saha that he is the right answer to United’s problems in attack. The Red Devils are on the hunt for a new No.9, and Saha believes that Weghorst will struggle to score another goal for the club.
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Despite the 30-year-old’s work rate and commitment, Saha does not see him as a long-term solution for United. He has also stated that there is no reason for the club to consider a loan switch from Burnley into a permanent move this summer.
In Saha’s opinion, there is every chance that Weghorst will leave the club without making another decisive contribution.
Former Man United striker Saha has told Paddy Power:
“In terms of numbers, it’s clear that Wout Weghorst needs to score more goals because that is what a club like Manchester United need. When the ball is coming through from Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford or Anthony, you need a striker who can score 15-20 goals a season.
However, it’s not good enough that he’s scored twice, and I don’t see that changing before the end of the season. In terms of his mentality, he works hard, but that is not good enough.
For me, he hasn’t done enough to show people that he deserves his spot in the team beyond the summer. The manager has a better idea as he sees him in training every day, but for me, Wout is not the answer.”
It is clear that Manchester United have had issues up front since the departure of Ronaldo. The team has struggled to find a consistent goalscorer, with Anthony Martial failing to step up to the plate on a regular basis.
The addition of Weghorst was seen as a potential solution to this problem, but it appears that his impact has been limited.
The club has a history of signing big-name players who fail to make an impact, such as Alexis Sanchez, Memphis Depay, and Angel Di Maria. It remains to be seen whether Weghorst will go down in history as another flop or whether he will eventually prove his worth to the team.
