Vincent Kompany has already hinted that Wout Weghorst could be thrown a lifeline by Burnley, with Manchester United set to pass on the opportunity to turn the striker's loan deal into a permanent one.
Plenty of eyebrows were raised back in January when Erik ten Hag opted to pursue the 30-year-old, with United shelling out £2.5million in compensation to Besiktas in order to take over Weghorst's contract until the end of the season.
And although the Dutchman has regularly praised Weghorst's link-up play and his commendable work rate, a dearth of goals (two in 26 appearances) looks set to scupper the striker's hopes of clinching a dream transfer to Old Trafford in the summer.
The Manchester Evening News have made it clear that Ten Hag has no intention of signing Weghorst on a permanent basis, leaving the former Wolfsburg man's future very much up in the air.
Reports earlier this week claimed that, although United were unlikely to pursue a permanent deal for the striker, Weghorst has other Premier League admirers. Prior to his underwhelming stint at Old Trafford, Weghorst had plundered nine goals in 18 games for Besiktas during the first half of the season after a difficult six-month stint at Burnley.
However, Weghorst could yet be offered a chance to return to Turf Moor, where he is still under contract. The striker left the Clarets on loan after relegation from the top-flight, but the club have made an instant return to the Premier League under Kompany this term.
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And speaking back in January just before his shock switch to Old Trafford was confirmed, Kompany hinted he would be open to working with Weghorst in the future - provided Burnley won promotion. He said: "I think with this situation, it has to play out when it plays out. Every player with a contract with us is a player that, if he is wanting and willing and if everything is right, then it is a player that makes it easier for us than going into the market and spending whatever amount of money.
"But the crucial part is that he has to finish his season wherever that is and at the end of the season I will have a conversation with the player, which for me is the most important conversation, and that will then decide everything.
"But you are anticipating too much in thinking we are going to be in the Premier League but in my case, I am a Championship manager at a Championship club and I don't want to be thinking about being in the Premier League at all right now.
"We are a Championship team and he has just played in the quarter-finals of the World Cup, so he’s a good player and we can always used good players. He’s definitely one of them, but he’s now thinking of going to Man United and not in the Championship."
