Roland Cutinho
Southampton have made contact with Manchester United over a potential loan deal for Amad Diallo
According to Football Insider (h/t Manchester Evening News), Manchester United winger Amad Diallo is a potential summer transfer target for Southampton as Erik ten Hag evaluates the future of the young player.
Amad, who joined the Red Devils in 2021 for an initial fee of £19 million, enjoyed a successful loan spell with Sunderland last season. He garnered a strong fan following at the Stadium of Light and has also attracted attention from other teams.
The 20-year-old played a crucial part in Sunderland’s playoff qualification, contributing 14 goals and four assists during the campaign. He could be in line for another spell in the Championship next season.
Although he initially had a slow start at the club, Amad became a crucial part of the team before the World Cup break in November.
His standout performances made him one of the most impressive players in the entire division, despite Sunderland narrowly missing out on promotion to the Premier League.
Diallo’s potential return to Sunderland have also been discussed, but another Championship club have now joined the competition for his signature. Southampton have now approached Man United regarding the possibility of securing Diallo on loan for the upcoming season.
The new Southampton manager, Russell Martin, is reportedly a big admirer of the winger and would be delighted to have him on board for the campaign. The Saints aim to make an immediate return to the Premier League, and signing a player of Amad’s calibre would significantly enhance their prospects.
Although the youngster has made nine appearances for United’s senior team, he has yet to feature in Ten Hag’s plans, at least for the 2023/24 season.
Sunderland’s sporting director, Kristjaan Speakman, has expressed doubt about the possibility of the African star returning to the club. Speakman anticipates that Amad will either stay at United or compete at a level higher than the Championship in the upcoming season.
But Sunderland’s manager, Tony Mowbray, admitted that he wanted to keep working with the prolific goal-scorer.
However, Southampton continue to show interest and inquired about Amad’s availability amid all the fuss. The Saint’s plans regarding the Ivory Coast star may depend on the future of Nathan Tella, who has returned from his loan spell.
Tella played a crucial role in Burnley’s title-winning campaign and is now being linked with a permanent move to Turf Moor.
If Tella leaves, it would create an opportunity for Amad to easily fit into Southampton’s squad. It would be a significant achievement if Southampton managed to convince the young attacker to join St. Mary’s and snub a move to Sunderland, a club that the player prefers more.
Meanwhile, Man United have not yet made a decision regarding the future of the promising young talent. In our opinion, Amad possesses the potential to thrive at Old Trafford, and Ten Hag could provide him with opportunities during the pre-season to assess his ability to make an impact in the upcoming season.
However, there are challenges to overcome, such as Mason Mount’s versatility, Ten Hag’s inclination to deploy Bruno Fernandes on the wing, and the substantial price tag of Antony.
With Diallo’s contract running until 2025, time is running out for the African ace to establish himself at Man United.
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A loan move could push him even further. Such valuable experiences will help him bring more dynamism to his game, in turn helping him to be an important player in United’s squad in the future.
Still, amid all the chaos, it remains to be seen whether the manager decides to retrieve him or offer him on loan to other clubs this summer.
