Wout Weghorst may not have the glamour of some strikers in world football, but the big Dutchman is certainly proving his worth during his first couple of weeks at Manchester United.
Emerging as a surprise target for Erik Ten Hag earlier this month, Weghorst, previously on loan with Besiktas from Burnley, opted to join the Red Devils on a short-term deal until the end of the season.
Providing necessary cover and competition for Anthony Martial, who continually struggles with consistency and fitness, Weghorst has come in and so far done exactly what is expected of him.
Although the 30-year-old has only played three games so far, he opened his United account with a decent strike during his side’s 3-0 EFL Cup semi-final first-leg win against Nottingham Forest on Wednesday night.
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Now off the mark, fans will be hoping to see the Netherlands international continue in the same form in the Premier League.
However, it isn’t just goalscoring that Weghorst offers. According to a recent stat from Opta, the former Wolfsburg hitman is the league’s most successful player when it comes to holding the ball up and laying it off for on-rushing teammates.
10 – Since his debut for @ManUtd, Wout Weghorst recorded 10 successful lay-offs in all competitions, at least six more than any other Premier League player in all competitions. Woutstanding. https://t.co/SlQGAXPEx7 pic.twitter.com/WQu6BADoLG
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) January 26, 2023
This kind of forward play is exactly what United have been missing in recent times, and probably why there have been such strong links to Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane.
The England international plays a very similar role for Antonio Conte’s Lilywhites, and even though Weghorst is leading the way at the moment, Kane, over the years, is undoubtedly the best in the country at holding the ball up.
