Manchester United have been warned by Besiktas they will only be able to sign Wout Weghorst if the Turkish club find a suitable replacement.
The Red Devils are aiming to secure a short-term loan deal for the Dutch striker between now and the end of the January transfer window with Erik ten Hag approving the move. There are some slight complications though, with Weghorst currently in the midst of a season-long loan in Turkey.
There is currently no break clause included in the deal with Man Utd now forced to hold talks with both Burnley and Besiktas in an effort to get a move over the line. Reports have suggested a deal is already agreed in principle with the Championship side. Yet Besiktas will only allow the 30-year-old forward to depart Istanbul should they find an adequate alternative.
Speaking to Milliyet, Besiktas chief Ahmet Nur Cebi said: “With the victories over Adana Demirspor and Kasimpasa we have caught a good mood again. In this critical period, I will not leave the team without a striker.
“If we agree on the terms after getting in a quality striker, then we will send Weghorst away. Otherwise, Weghorst will stay in the team.”
Besiktas have ironically been linked with a former United target Vincent Aboubakar as they attempt to find a replacement for the Dutchman. The Cameroonian looks set to leave Saudi club Al-Nassr following the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo.
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He has previously had two spells with the club - the first coming during a loan spell from Portuguese giants Porto. He returned permanently last season but elected to join Al-Nassr ahead of the current campaign.
Besiktas’ recent statement is not the first demand that they have set out in relation to Weghorst’s future. They hit out at claims that he was on the verge of moving to Old Trafford this week, whilst also disputing speculation that there was a break clause written into their original loan deal with Burnley.
An official club statement read: "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 2.5 million Euros 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 regarding Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Besiktas. If there is a development on this issue, the information will be shared."
Sky Sports report United are keeping their options open in the event a deal for Weghorst cannot be completed.
Weghorst, 30, has managed to score nine goals in 18 appearances in all competitions since joining Besiktas - a record that he will no doubt aim to continue at Old Trafford.
