Besiktas have hit out at "fictitious" claims as striker Wout Weghorst continues to be linked with a move to Manchester United.
Dutch striker Weghorst moved on loan to the Turkish club over the summer, having failed to keep Burnley in the Premier League. However, with United in need of attacking reinforcements after losing Cristiano Ronaldo in November, the former Wolfsburg man has been linked with Erik ten Hag's side.
The 30-year-old appeared to wave goodbye to Besiktas fans over the weekend, increasing noise around the purported move. Things might not be entirely clear-cut, though, if the latest response from the Turkish Super Lig club is to be believed.
"After the match of our Football A Team against Kasımpasa in the Super League, there was a need to make a statement due to speculative news in the media about our football player Wout Weghorst," Besiktas said.
"The claim that there is an exit clause in our football player's contract, stating that his contract can be terminated with a compensation of €2.5million in case of an offer from the Premier League, is fictitious.
"However, the news that the player in question will leave the team on Tuesday is completely untrue. The initiative with regards Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Besiktas. We also state that if there is a development on this issue, our esteemed community and the public will be informed."
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Weghorst joined Burnley in January 2022 after averaging a goal every other game in the Bundesliga for Wolfsburg. He only netted twice in England, though, and the Clarets dropped into the Championship after parting ways with manager Sean Dyche.
Vincent Kompany allowed the striker to head out on loan this term, but a solid scoring record in Turkey earned him a spot in Netherlands' World Cup squad. Weghorst scored twice in Qatar, helping Louis van Gaal's team force a penalty shootout in their quarter-final clash with eventual-winners Argentina, and the weeks since have seen Old Trafford links grow.
United sit fourth in the Premier League after 17 games, but Chelsea are the only team in the top half to have scored fewer than the 27 goals racked up by Ten Hag's side. With Ronaldo leaving by mutual agreement in November, there is a gap for a new frontman, though Weghorst is not the only player to have caught United's eye.
Joao Felix continues to be linked with a move, with questions being asked over his Atletico Madrid future. United have also been linked with a surprise swoop for Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar, who has been joined by Ronaldo at Saudi Arabian top-flight side Al-Nassr.
