Is Wout Weghorst enough to fire Manchester United into the top four?

Since arriving at Manchester United, Erik ten Hag has shown encouraging signs that he can finally turn things around at Old Trafford after a decade of mediocrity cast its shadow following Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. The Scot’s fifth permanent successor, Ten Hag has ruled with an iron fist and the former Ajax manager is finally starting to reap the rewards despite a shaky start. He’s had to make some big decisions along the way — no more so than allowing star man and the club’s top earner, Cristiano Ronaldo, to leave the club following the termination of his contract.

Throughout the six-time Ballon d'Or winner’s explosive and now infamous Piers Morgan interview, it was clear he and Ten Hag didn’t see eye to eye, and as a consequence, Ronaldo is now in Saudi Arabia, whilst the Dutchman is solidifying United as genuine top four contenders, with the hope of bringing Champions League football back to the Theatre of Dreams.

Credit where it’s due to Ten Hag — he stuck by his decision and now the likes of Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes are coming back out of their shells, having been plagued by the inconsistency that has almost epitomised the club since Ronaldo’s reunion with United. There have also been plenty of opportunities for the conveyor belt of youth talent being produced through the Leigh Village academy, with exciting South Americans Alejandro Garnacho and Facundo Pellistri earning crucial game time for their development. But are United still short in the final third?

Heading into the second half of the season, a crucial period in assessing if Ten Hag’s maiden year at United is to be a success, you wonder if they are in need of a traditional centre forward to provide additional goalscoring support, or whether the red-hot form of Rashford will be enough to carry United into the pinnacle of Europe’s elite and defy the football betting odds.

Traditionally, Ten Hag operates with a tall, physical striker — the one exception being Ajax’s 2018-19 Champions League campaign in which Dusan Tadic operated as a false nine — the likes of Sebastien Haller and Kasper Dolberg. But there seems to be a misconception of what Ten Hag wants from his forwards.

Having signed Wout Weghorst, a striker that was relegated with Burnley only last season, the assumption is that the 30-year-old would immediately play the same style of football as he did under Sean Dyche for the Clarets, but that is where Weghorst has perhaps been mis-profiled. While extremely useful with his back to goal and aerial threat, largely due to his six-foot-six-inch presence, the Dutchman is deceptively efficient off the ball, and can make intelligent runs as well as poach chances with a variety of finishing tools.

Eventually United will want to transition into that fluid, passing team that Ten Hag moulded during his time at Ajax, but things like that take time and patience, as well as sustainable recruitment — think of Arsenal’s rise under Mikel Arteta as a blueprint. Longevity will be rewarded but there is also the immediate future to consider. United need goals and while Rashford is enjoying a purple patch, signing Weghorst, who spent the first half of the season on loan at Turkish side Besiktas, would add another dimension to the United attack, another string to Ten Hag’s bow, and a better chance of United playing in the Champions League this time next year.