Man Utd’s weirdest transfers and where they are now with Weghorst set to sign

Manchester United have had some excellent signings down the years – and their prowess in the market was backed up by years of success at the pinnacle of the sport.

However, even the best don't always get it wrong, and the Red Devils have often left fans scratching their heads with some strange deals. And those deals have increased in number in recent years as success has eluded Old Trafford since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club.

Now, after nearly six barren years without a single trophy, the Red Devils look set to confirm journeyman Dutch striker Wout Weghorst on a short-term loan. Here Daily Star Sport looks at six of Man Utd's weirdest transfers.

Wout Weghorst – Burnley (loan)

When Wout Weghorst first made his move into the English game – in January 2022 – he did so against United for Burnley; fans hailed the 6ft 7in big man as the most 'Burnley signing ever'.

However, few would have predicted one year later, Weghorst would be jetting to England to put pen-to-paper on a deal that would see him loaned to the Red Devils for the final six months of the season. And yet Weghorst might have earned himself a big move.

After struggling at Burnley he's re-found his form in Turkey – and the 30-year-old almost denied Lionel Messi his World Cup dream with perhaps the best cameo of the 2022 edition.

Who do you think Manchester United's strangest signing ever is? Let us know in the comments section

Martin Dubravka – Newcastle United (loan)

Despite only being at the club since the summer, Erik ten Hag has two signings on this list – with the second being Martin Dubravka.

United acquired the services of Dubravka over the summer on a season-long loan – to provide competition for David De Gea and Tom Heaton. The Serbian made two appearances for the Red Devils, both in the Carabao Cup.

And Newcastle recalled Dubravka in January, leading United to sign Jack Butland on loan – who could have made this list if that transfer had happened sooner.

Odion Ighalo – Shanghai Shenhua (loan)

Odion Ighalo had experienced some success at Watford in the mid-2010s, but in 2017 he upped sticks to China, where he remained until 2020 – when he made a baffling loan move to United.

Ighalo's move was complicated by the outbreak of covid in China, which hadn't yet reached British shores, but he was allowed to make the move. Ighalo failed to net in the Premier League, but he did bag in the Europa League and the FA Cup.

United extended his loan after football was suspended due to covid, and he left in January 2021. Ighalo is now in Saudi Arabia – where he turns out for Al-Hilal.

Andy Kellett – Bolton Wanderers (loan)

A quick look at Andy Kellett's former clubs makes for interesting reading: from non-league sides such as Guiseley and Alfreton Town to EFL stalwarts such as Wigan and Bolton.

And it was at the latter where Kellett made a bizarre loan move to United in 2015 – spending six months on loan at the Red Devils. Kellett didn't make an appearance for the first team, instead spending most of his time with the U21s side.

These days, Kellett is other side of the Pennines, and he turns out for Yorkshire-side Guiseley.

Nick Powell – Crewe Alexandra (£6million)

Back in 2012, United signing Nick Powell didn't look as strange as it does these days: he had excelled for Crewe in League Two, and the youngster looked to have a bright future ahead of him.

£6million was a hefty fee in 2012, and the early signs were good – he notched on his Premier League debut against Wigan. However, Powell would only go on to make two more appearances in the Premier League for the Red Devils.

Powell left United in 2016, after a series of loan spells, and he's currently at Stoke City.

Dong Fangzhuo – Dalian Shide (£500,000)

In 2004, Dong Fangzhuo became United's first-ever East Asian player as he made the switch from China to Old Trafford, and big things were expected.

However, it never worked out for Fangzhuo, and his career quickly spiralled with spells in Portugal, Armenia, and then back to China. At 29-years-old he was without a club and struggling to stay fit – he hung up his boots shortly afterwards.

Fangzhuo last earned headlines when he appeared on a Chinese TV show where he underwent plastic surgery on his jowly face.

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