Erik ten Hag drops hint on Wout Weghorst's future at Manchester United

Erik ten Hag has indicated that Wout Weghorst could have a future at Manchester United beyond the end of his loan spell this summer.

The Dutch striker has started 18 consecutive games since making the temporary switch from Championship high-flyers Burnley, but he has scored just two goals in that run in the side.

Weghorst is likely to face more competition for his place in the team from the fit-again Anthony Martial during United's run-in, but despite his lack of goals, Ten Hag is delighted with the contribution of his countryman.

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United swooped for the 30-year-old after Cristiano Ronaldo's dramatic exit in November, with Ten Hag told he could only deal in low-cost loans during the January transfer window.

Contact was made with Burnley in mid-December and the Clarets had to agree a deal with Bestikas to terminate Weghorst's season-long loan in Turkey early, before United agreed a £2.5million fee to take the striker on loan for the remainder of the campaign.

Burnley are open to selling Weghorst in the summer and they were happy to see him put himself in the shop window during his time at Old Trafford, but Ten Hag is now considering making that switch permanent this summer.

"Of course [he could stay permanently] and I think he is doing a lot of elements of football [I like] - doing them really well. And he's doing a really good job for us," he said.

"Pressing: he is the leader of the process in pressing, starts the press, very good in backward pressing. He is taking up positions, his link-up play he's doing really well. He is making good movements, making space for others, so he's also good in set-plays, so he is really contributing to this