Wout Weghorst is on the verge of sealing a move to Manchester United to provide a solution for the club’s striker shortage.
Weghorst is going to be an eye-catching presence up front for United, even if he is used only as a substitute.
The 6ft 6″ Dutchman has the ability to cause real problems for opponents, just simply by being there.
It is an aerial presence Manchester United have lacked since Marouane Fellaini‘s departure at the start of 2019.
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Fellaini went from flop to an impactful cult hero
Manchester United signed Marouane Fellaini for £27.5 million in 2013, as the only transfer deal of that summer’s ill-fated window.
The big Belgian was under pressure from the very start, with United overpaying, and manager David Moyes struggling to use him effectively, despite managing him successfully at Everton.
Fellaini was a poor fit under Louis van Gaal too; it was Jose Mourinho who really worked out a way to use the Belgian as an asset.
The 6ft 4″ midfielder, who looked even taller due to his hair, was able to cause havoc inside the opposition penalty area, with his desire to win balls and uncoordinated use of his elbows.
While Fellaini was not a centre-forward, Mourinho often utilised him as one, late in games when United needed a goal.
One memorable instance came late in Mourinho’s spell, with United winning 2-1 in Turin against Juventus, a comeback sparked by Fellaini’s substitution.
Weghorst can cause similar problems for opponents
Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer let Fellaini go. It seemed like it was time for him to move on, but the manager did not replace him with a player who possessed the same attributes.
Solskjaer lost four semi-finals as manager and one final, and it could be argued, that with a ‘plan B’ on the bench like Fellaini, it could have made the difference.
Weghorst is arriving at United at an interesting time. United are well placed in the league and still in three cup competitions. He could have a major impact.
He demonstrated at the World Cup how he can turn games around, with the Netherlands coming back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Argentina, with Weghorst scoring a dramatic brace.
His height and mere presence causes a distraction for defenders, in addition to being a threat itself, and United have enough talent around him to take advantage, especially with set-piece specialists like Christian Eriksen.
At a decisive phase of the season, Weghorst could make a real mark, and Erik ten Hag is savvy enough to know how to use him.
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