Erik ten Hag will already have run the rule over Wout Weghorst's talents before deciding his fellow Dutchman can be a useful addition to his Manchester United squad.
But if the United boss had any second thoughts over what the 6ft 5ins striker could bring to his side, he can take plenty of reassurance from some of the glowing verdicts Weghorst has received in the recent past. The 30-year-old is poised to complete his short-term loan switch from Burnley after United agreed to pay a £2.5million fee to current loan club Besiktas to break his season-long agreement and take him to Old Trafford.
Weghorst was spotted at Istanbul Airport on Thursday ahead of his flight to Manchester where he will complete the finer details of his move. Ten Hag is keen to get the deal over the line as quickly as possible in the hope he can register Weghorst in time to be involved for Saturday's Manchester derby.
There has been some scepticism over United opting to sign another short-term option in attack, following predecessors Odion Ighalo and Edinson Cavani, while a move earlier in the season for Marko Arnautovic was scuppered by opposition from the club's fans.
A move for Weghorst has very much come out of the blue, despite his impressive brace for Netherlands against Argentina in the World Cup, while his failure to really set the Premier League alight last season with Burnley has offered little optimism he can be the key figure United can rely on to fire them to great things this campaign.
But while his previous stint at Turf Moor was largely regarded as a failure, Weghorst has plenty going for him that could suit United to a tee. Ten Hag has been crying out for a new no.9, particularly following the exit of Cristiano Ronaldo. While Weghorst may not end up as a regular starter, he gives United a different option to Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford, neither of whom have ever really staked a serious claim they are the permanent answer in the lead striker role.
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Despite scoring just twice in 20 appearances for Burnley last season, on their way to relegation, Weghorst has found the net eight times in 16 games for Besiktas this season. He boasts a similar record of a goal every two games (118 apps, 59 goals) in the Bundesliga from his time with Wolfsburg, while he was almost as prolific in the Eredivisie.
And it is Weghorst's all-round game which could prove most valuable to United and Ten Hag's philosophy. As former Burnley boss Sean Dyche said when landing Weghorst's signature last January: "The way he plays, his quality, he brings others into play, he’s got a real team ethic and he has quality, there’s no two ways about that.”
While his size is an obvious positive for a target man, Dyche went further by describing Weghorst as a "technically very good player", who "can play and link play and that gives us another way of playing, particularly around the box, he's clever around the box."
One of Ten Hag's biggest issues with Ronaldo was the veteran's lack of interest and ability to implement his manager's pressing style. This is one area where Weghorst could also be of greater benefit to the team as a collective.
Speaking after Weghorst scored and impressed in a Premier League fixture against United for Burnley last February, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp - who was due to face the striker the following weekend - said: "They [Burnley] brought in a new striker. If you saw the game, you would have seen he is a lively boy. He was very active all over the pitch."
Similarly, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright lavished praise on Weghorst after Burnley beat Brighton 3-0. "His link-up play and the problems he caused all day kept Burnley in a position on the field where they could cause problems," Wright said.
“When you see the position he takes up for his goal, it is fantastic, and the calmness with the way he took it. He gets himself in the middle but then he just stops, and the composure and the clinical way he finished it was brilliant.
"This is exactly what you want from your centre forward, causing the defender all sorts of problems."
Weghorst's arrival may not be raising the excitement levels particularly high at Old Trafford, but he could be just the man the Red Devils need.
