Wout Weghorst is adamant that he can persuade Erik ten Hag to shelve his search for a new striker in the summer and land a permanent deal at Manchester United.
Weghorst, 30, had been on loan at Besiktas before he emerged as a shock transfer target for United earlier this month. The Premier League giants were desperate for another attacking option after losing Cristiano Ronaldo and struck a deal with Burnley to cut the striker's spell in Turkey short.
Although Weghorst is only scheduled to be at Old Trafford until the end of the current campaign, the Dutchman is already eyeing up a longer stay at the club - even though Ten Hag is expected to target bigger names in the summer.
United have already been tipped to launch an ambitious bid for Harry Kane if they qualify for the Champions League. But after opening his account for the club in the midweek win over Nottingham Forest in the League Cup, Weghorst is backing himself for the top striking gig at United.
When he was asked if he was confident he could earn an extended stay at the club, Weghorst replied: "Of course. The situation now is how it was – it was for a loan. It’s a massive club so I will try to do everything as good as I can, and if it will work out it will be a good option.
"I’ve seen the first couple of days, almost a week, how big the club is in everything – the facilities, the club, even the quality in the team, the way we’re playing. There’s a lot of quality in everything and that’s something you look to work in, in a winning atmosphere.
"I think the first week went well and it’s up to me to deliver and contribute and to help the team as good as I can. I’m quite confident I can play a role in it.
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"The club was looking for a target man. With [Anthony] Martial there was only one real striker, more of a No.9. They just wanted to add one and then it's up to me and to take your chances."
Ten Hag had plenty of praise for the manner in which Weghorst has started his Old Trafford career on Wednesday night but admitted that it was crucial that the Burnley man got off the mark in midweek. He said: "It's important for him and for his confidence that he scored that goal.
"He did a great job at Crystal Palace and Arsenal with his pressing, targets and movements. He was part of Bruno's [Fernandes'] goal at Palace because he makes the right movement to the front post. He was part of [Marcus] Rashford's goal at Arsenal because he dragged the centre-half away.
"But strikers are there to score goals and when they don't score they're not happy."
