Erik ten Hag's latest transfer target Wout Weghorst reportedly caught the eye during training sessions with the Netherlands at the World Cup.
Weghorst was included in Louis van Gaal's squad for the tournament in Qatar last month, one of seven forwards in the group. He would feature in four of their five games, though Cody Gakpo and Memphis Depay were Van Gaal's favoured pair up-front.
But the 30-year-old did play a major role in the quarter-final clash against Argentina, which became an immediate classic. After coming on as a late substitute, Weghorst incredibly scored twice to send the game to extra-time.
The Netherlands would ultimately be defeated on penalties, but his second goal, from an ingenious free-kick, will go down in World Cup history. His actions away from game time also caught the eye though.
According to Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad, Weghorst 'raged like a beast' during training sessions, even in the days after a match. While other reserves were visibly disappointed and starters relaxed, Weghorst was said to train as 'if his life depended' on it.
That is exactly the type of attitude Ten Hag is said to believe is currently missing among his Red Devils squad. Weghorst is seen as being the perfect addition both in terms of personality and sporting wise.
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During the World Cup, he trained as if he was going to star for the Oranje, even though he was a substitute for all five games. His impressive goals return on loan at Besiktas this season have also seen him emerge as a target for Ten Hag.
Former Real Madrid and Inter Milan star Wesley Sneijder has still mocked the move though. He does not believes that Weghorst suits United's style of play and branded the move a "stunt".
"Surely not. I would find that very strange," he told Veronica Offside when asked how serious he believed the Red Devils were about signing Weghorst.
"I think they've seen the trick with the free kick [in the quarter-final of the World Cup against Argentina], so they don't fall for that in England anymore. In terms of striker, is he really someone United are waiting for? I don't think so.
"They still have 300 of those in the Premier League. It must be a stunt. This really can't be true. They still have 300 of those in the Premier League. It must be a stunt. This really can't be true."
Besiktas are also holding firm on their desire to keep Weghorst in Istanbul, despite the striker waving goodbye to their fans at the weekend. And they insisted that they have no intention of letting him depart.
The Turkish club said in a statement: "The news that the player in question will leave the team on Tuesday is completely untrue. The initiative regarding Wout Weghorst belongs entirely to Besiktas Gymnastics Club."
