Saturday saw surprise claims that Wout Weghorst is on the verge of signing for Manchester United.
Erik ten Hag wants to recruit a striker during the January window, and the Dutchman is one of the options in a thin market for that position.
The 30-year-old is currently on loan at Besiktas from Burnley until the end of the season, and a move to Old Trafford would obviously require that loan deal to come to an early end.
Around the time the rumours surfaced, Weghorst was playing for Besiktas against Kasimpasa. The Black Eagles won the match 2-1, with the striker scoring.
When celebrating after his goal and the victory, the player appeared to be saying goodbye to fans and then staff. That obviously caused some surprise and concern, and Fanatik now bring the Turkish slant on the situation.
Fanatik, one of the biggest sport outlets in Turkey, say Besiktas management insist there’s no exit clause in the loan deal with Burnley.
Ceyhun Kazancı, Besiktas’ sporting director, said: “I don’t understand why Weghorst said goodbye to the fans, why he made such a move. He is our football player right now. Our contract expires at the end of the season.
“If Manchester United or any other team wants Wegnorst, they will meet with Burnley anyway. Burnley will then contact us and discuss the terms of separation. If we accept, the contract will be terminated. Otherwise, it will go on until the end of the season. He can’t just go. There will have to be a reward for us to approve the separation. I’ll give an example. Burnley told us, ‘We made a deal with this team for Weghorst. We give you half of the transfer fee.’ This may be a different condition. Then we’ll sit down and talk.”
Besiktas are expected to meet with Weghorst’s agent today.
In a further Sunday morning update, Fanatik suggest an agreement between Burnley and Besiktas is approaching, with the Championship club paying the Turkish side to make it happen.
Weghorst is also said to have told Besiktas president Ahmet Nur Çebi that he wants to complete the transfer.
