Erik ten Hag is already getting Manchester United summer transfer plans right

When Manchester United signed Wout Weghorst on loan from Championship side Burnley in January, he was seen as a stop-gap option, an inventive - and cheap - solution to a problem caused by Cristiano Ronaldo's departure.

It's fair to say that nobody, not even Weghorst himself, envisaged a run of 13 successive starts for his new club, a streak that includes the first medal of his career and is bettered by only one player at the moment (Bruno Fernandes has started 14 in a row).

It would be a stretch to say the 30-year-old has become a vital cog in Erik ten Hag's machine. It's more a case of his role becoming more valuable due to the ongoing fitness issues of Anthony Martial.

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A return of one goal in those 13 starts clearly needs improvement, but there is also a lot to like about Weghorst's performances. His ability to bring others into play and to drop deep and link with teammates has been excellent. It was a vital part of his game in the FA Cup win against West Ham United on Wednesday night, when he earned praise from Ten Hag.

His fellow loanee Marcel Sabitzer also caught the eye against the Hammers, starting particularly well, both as a combative presence in midfield and when pushing further forward and pressing opponents. It was a good night for United's shoestring January window.

It also added to the debate over whether United should look to sign both players in the summer. Burnley will be open to selling Weghorst and Bayern Munich could let Sabitzer, 28, go. A world-class forward is on the radar this summer but Weghorst could add depth to that position, while United also need another midfielder.

But Ten Hag urged caution with regard to making bold