Vincent Kompany would like to persuade Wout Weghorst to play a part in his future plans at Burnley - regardless of how his six-month loan spell at Manchester United pans out.
Weghorst, 30, only arrived at Turf Moor in a £12million deal last January but was shipped out on loan to Besiktas after netting just two goals as the Clarets dropped out of the Premier League last May.
The striker's season-long spell in Turkey was cut short this week in the wake of interest from United boss Erik ten Hag, who has been scouring the market for attacking reinforcements following Cristiano Ronaldo's exit. United are now poised to sign Weghorst on loan until the end of the season, but the Dutchman's long-term future is still up in the air.
Ahead of Weghorst's switch being confirmed, Kompany has stressed that the striker is still a Burnley player. And the former Manchester City man, who has the Clarets on course for an instant return to the Premier League, has hinted he would like the chance to convince the Weghorst to return to Turf Moor again next season - even if Ten Hag and United would like to keep him for longer.
Speaking at a press conference, the Burnley boss said of Weghorst: "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.
Join the debate! Do you think Weghorst will be a good signing for Man Utd? Let us know here.
"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."
While Weghorst is primarily being viewed as a stop-gap signing, financial restrictions mean that Manchester United will have to cut their cloth accordingly next summer: which could make the striker an attractive option if he impresses during his six-month audition.
The Telegraph outlined on Thursday that United still owe £307m in transfer fees and will soon have to abide by UEFA’s new Financial Stability rules, which is likely to significantly limit their spending power in future transfer windows.
