Manchester United signing a player on loan from a Championship club sounds odd. And United's acquisition of Dutch striker Wout Weghorst from Burnley has caused a certain degree of stir.
But context is important.
Weghorst has essentially been taken from Besiktas, where he has played on loan for the last six months after Burnley's relegation from the Premier League. He is by no means a Championship player, hence a clause in his contract that enabled him a move away from Burnley after their relegation.
And, in honesty, Weghorst isn't a player that should have spent half of last season at a struggling Premier League side - the move seemed to merely satisfy his desire to play in the English top-flight.
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As it is, United's acquisition of Weghorst seems a fairly shrewd one when you dig deeper, filling the void left by Cristiano Ronaldo and providing reinforcement for Anthony Martial.
Erik ten Hag was frustratingly - given the long-term project he is attempting to build - limited to scouring the short-term, loan market due to ownership uncertainty and a lack of available funds.
But, in that bracket, Weghorst is essentially a premium option as United wait for the summer window to look for a more expensive option for the longer term.
More representative of his level than a stint at Burnley is that he has been capped 19 times by the Netherlands. His most recent international exploits saw him come off the bench at the Qatar World Cup to score twice for his nation as they overcame a 2-0 deficit against eventual winners Argentina, taking the match to extra time before defeat on penalties.
You don't go to the World Cup, and the European Championships prior, without having pedigree at the elite level.
Weghorst's acquisition is not ridiculous at all when you look logically, with the impact he can have shown by his display as a substitute against Argentina in Qatar. That was a match that also showed his confidence amid a battle-like affair; he didn't shirk the challenge, which is credit to his personality - something viewed as key by Ten Hag when he signs players.
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During his time at Burnley, Weghorst did underwhelm on the goal contributions front, playing 20 times yet only scoring twice and managing three assists. But there is a considerable mitigating factor that Burnley were a stylistically poor outfit - a passive side that created very few chances.
By contrast, United have plenty of creative figures, and Weghorst has proven he can deliver when in a more attack-minded, inventive side in a major league, which points towards a more memorable second spell in the Premier League.
For instance, during his time at VfL Wolfsburg in Germany, he scored a creditable 70 times in 144 appearances, also providing 22 assists across three-and-a-half years at the club - spanning from the summer of 2018 to January 2022.
He joined Wolfsburg from AZ Alkmaar in his native Netherlands, where he just as laudably scored 45 times and provided 13 assists in 86 matches.
Most recently, during his time at Besiktas this term, he played 18 times, scoring equivalent to once ever two matches and assisting four times in addition. His lack of prolific form at Burnley continues to prove an outlier as a consequence of playing in a struggling side not renowned for their attacking prowess.
And when you look at his game, Weghorst possesses a number of desirable traits that will certainly suffice for the rest of the season as he serves as a deputy to, or possibly even competition for, Martial at United.
"He is a goalscorer, he is also the type to work for the team," Ten Hag eloquently summarised speaking to BT Sport. "He is a good pressing player and can also play counter attack. You won't expect it with his profile but he's a good counter player."
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Standing at six-foot-six, Weghorst obviously serves as an effective target man, offering a focal point for the side in a way that Martial doesn't. He is more of a presence in the penalty area, akin to Sebastian Haller under Ten Hag at Ajax.
As a result of his stature, Weghorst is aerially strong, while his aggressive nature and physicality is crucial when it comes to winning duels, opening up the avenue of crossing being a viable means of creation.
United have lacked an ability to attack balls into the box at times this season, and Weghorst should provide a greater outlet in this regard. His movement is effective in finding space in and around the penalty area, while he is a player that is willing to put his body on the line when a scoring opportunity arises.
Despite being so tall, he is by no means ungainly either - instead mobile with a more intricate side to his game. He is able to drop deep and link play where necessary, with a capability to function on the counter attack too (as Ten Hag pointed out).
His passing isn't statistically the most reliable, but he can be involved to a high degree in build-up and is particularly adept when it comes to passing over a shorter range. Evidenced by his assist tallies at various clubs, Weghorst is also able to act as a creator, bringing other players into the game.
His almost unusual mobility for someone of his height is also shown by his ability with the ball at his feet; while not a high volume dribbler, he is able to dribble successfully when he does attempt to run with the ball - combining intricacy with power.
He is also a renowned presser, offering defensive intensity largely unrivalled by other forwards. This very much aligns with Ten Hag's principles, with Weghorst undoubtedly someone who will commit to adjusting his game to fit into his new manager's system.
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Signing Weghorst is, of course, sub-optimal given it doesn't fit with Ten Hag's will to orchestrate a long-term rebuild - he is 30 years old and is only signing on a temporary basis.
However, if he is a success, who is to say United couldn't lure Weghorst away from Burnley to continue as an option that would contribute to squad depth?
It will be interesting to see what sort of role he does end up playing during his temporary spell at United. Given Martial's injury record, you would imagine he could play a fairly significant part across the rest of the season; even off the bench, he could be highly impactful on a regular basis considering Martial rarely completes matches.
It could turn out that Weghorst actually features irrespective of Martial's fitness - he offers something very different, and arguably has a more complete game in aspects too. While many have written him off already, it is actually an enticing move.
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