Burnley have now finally found a successor for Vincent Kompany after the managerial position was vacant for over a month, but the side still have some big decisions to make during the transfer window.
One player whose future is up in the air is centre-forward Wout Weghorst, who hasn’t played a competitive game for the Clarets since the end of the 2021/22 campaign following his £12 million January move from Wolfsburg.
Unfortunately, the Dutch striker’s time at Turf Moor didn’t exactly go to plan. He scored merely two goals in his half-season in the first-team and has had three subsequent loan spells despite remaining under contract with the Lancashire outfit, firstly at Besiktas in Turkey, then at Manchester United, and eventually returning to the Bundesliga to Hoffenheim.
Now, Weghorst’s contract with Burnley has entered into its final 12 months and it is unclear where he will play his football next season. This is the club’s last chance to gain some money for the 31-year-old, who will be 32 in four weeks, before his contract expires the following summer.
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Furthermore, Weghorst is currently at the European Championship in Germany as part of The Netherlands’ squad and won’t be returning anytime soon to join the Clarets’ pre-season preparations under new boss Scott Parker. While away on international duty, the Dutchman was asked about whether he would be open to coming back to Besiktas this summer.
Speaking to Turkish media ahead of Holland’s clash with Turkey later this afternoon in the Euros quarter-final, Weghorst said [quotes via Inside Futbol]:
“I had an incredibly good time in Turkey and I received an offer from Manchester United. I could not say no to that.
“I am very happy that Besiktas gave me this chance. I have only positive and grateful memories of Besiktas.
“I can always have thoughts for Besiktas and Turkey. We do not know what the future will bring.”
Writer’s View
If Burnley don’t manage to sell Weghorst before the transfer window closes at the end of August, he could walk away for free in 12 months and the club won’t recuperate any of the £12 million they spent on him two-and-a-half years ago.
The experienced frontman currently boasts a market value of £5 million, as per Transfermarkt, which means that the Clarets would still be making a loss on his signing. However, this £5 million could be spent elsewhere in the squad as Parker looks to take the club back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
Deputy Head of Writing
