Watch : The perfect Striker Wout Weghorst numbers show his goalscoring ability is seriously underrated

 Wout Weghorst numbers show his goalscoring ability is seriously underrated

January 9, 2023

Dan Coombs

Wout Weghorst will be the first to admit that his spell at Burnley in the Premier League was not a success.

This may be partly why he is reported by Fabrizio Romano to be so keen on moving to Manchester United, so he can set this right.

Weghorst was really set up to fail at Burnley last season, with the Clarets at the end of the Sean Dyche tenure and heading to relegation.

Everywhere else he has played, he has been successful, and this includes his latest spell in Turkey.

Wout Weghorst stats

The numbers behind Wout Weghorst’s spell at Besiktas show clearly that he has been enjoying himself more than he did at Burnley.

Weghorst has scored eight goals in 16 games, also providing four assists. That is a goal contribution in 75 per cent of matches played.

Numbers from FBRef show Weghorst has managed more shots on target this season than any player in the Turkish Super Lig, with 24 in total.

He is also averaging a top 10 figure of total shots per 90, more than three attempts on goal per game. He has proven a real handful for defences to cope with.

Weghorst’s off-ball work is also impressive, shown up in statistics from the Premier League last season.

Stats Bomb report Weghorst made 57 pressures in Burnley’s game against Wolves, more than any player in the entire division that season.

This will appeal to Erik ten Hag, who wants his forward players to work hard, and with a focal point in attack, it can create space for his other attackers.

Weghorst’s most successful goalscoring spell came at Wolfsburg, where he struck 70 goals in all competitions.

Squawka reported 12 months ago how his tally of 59 Bundesliga goals since the start of 2018/19 were second only to Robert Lewandowski.

This is the type of regular goalscorer United potentially could unlock, and that the team is crying out for. His work rate and deft touch in the penalty area is underrated. Just because he is 6ft 6″, doesn’t make him simply a ‘target man’.

Weghorst is a player who will give his all for United, and if given a second chance in the Premier League, he will be determined to make it work.

And in the Europa League, a chance to go up against old rival Robert Lewandowski’s Barcelona, would be quite something.