Why Wout Weghorst could be a better fit for Manchester United’s needs than Cody Gakpo

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A month ago, it had appeared as though PSV Eindhoven’s Cody Gakpo would be Manchester United’s most likely forward signing.

However, a lack of funds led to loans being United’s only route to a January signing, and with Gakpo making a £37 million move to Liverpool, despite ESPN reporting Erik ten Hag‘s interest in the player, the Red Devils have had to look elsewhere.

And in a signing totally out of the blue, Wout Weghorst has joined, swapping Burnley for Manchester United, terminating his loan spell at Besiktas.

Believe it or not, Weghorst is actually a far better fit for Manchester United’s needs than Cody Gakpo ever was.

READ: Confirmed Manchester United transfers in, out, loan deals for January 2023

Manchester United need a striker

Manchester United have made many transfer mistakes over the years, many of which have centred around buying players, with nowhere to fit them into the team.

Look at the additions of Juan Mata and Alexis Sanchez for instance, talented footballers who were bought because of their talent, and not a grand tactical plan.

This would have been the case with Cody Gakpo, yet another versatile forward with a desire to really play on the left-wing. Just like Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho and Alejandro Garnacho. Even put Anthony Martial into this mix.

Manchester United need a centre-forward, a penalty box poacher, and Gakpo does not fit the bill. Not yet at least.

Perhaps he can be converted to become a striker long-term. But this is a project Manchester United need not rely on, when the team’s need for goals is immediate.

Weghorst is a proper striker, a centre-forward, who has scored 124 of his 125 league career goals from inside the penalty area.

His goalscoring ability is underrated, only Robert Lewandowski scored more Bundesliga goals between 2018 and 2021.

He gives United a proper ‘plan B’ in attack due to his height and presence, not simply ‘more of the same’, which Gakpo would have offered.

And if it doesn’t work out, United’s funds are saved for the summer, when there is a larger pool of strikers to choose from. Weghorst could be the absolutely ideal signing for United, exactly what Erik ten Hag needed.