Director admits he expects to miss out on £19m Manchester United ace

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A return to Sunderland is unlikely for Amad Diallo with the club’s sporting director insisting that the Manchester United starlet should be playing Premier League rather than Championship football next season.

If Erik ten Hag cannot find a space in his Manchester United squad for a player who contributed 18 goals and assists on loan at Sunderland last term, then there will certainly be plenty of clubs willing to take Amad Diallo off his hands for 12 months or so.

There is reported interest from top-flight quartet West Ham, Fulham Everton and Burnley (90Min).

And Kristjaan Speakman, Sunderland’s sporting director, acknowledges that the former Atalanta whizzkid is ready to test himself in choppier waters having outgrown the comparatively small pond that is England’s second tier.

“I’m so happy Amad sat in here at the end of the season with me and Tony (Mowbray, Sunderland manager) and had a vibrant smile on his face. He loved it. Naturally, that’s what we want,” Speakman tells the Northern Echo.

“Can Amad return to Sunderland? I don’t think so.

“He should be playing in tier one. In England, La Liga, Bundesliga, wherever. That’s the level of player he is.”

Manchester United must make Amad Diallo decision

Diallo, should he stay at Manchester United next term, is likely to find himself in direct competition with Brazil international Antony. Diallo, like Antony, is at his most effective when cutting inside onto his left foot.

There is also a feeling that Jadon Sancho is more comfortable on the right-hand side, while Facundo Pellistri should provide Ten Hag with extra depth unless he is tasked with emulating Diallo’s impact out on loan.

“The loan manager from Manchester United was in this week,” Mowbray told the Northern Echo at the start of May. “We had a good chat. It’s a shame we didn’t do a two-year loan!

“I think Man United are happy. I think the next step is for them to take Amad on pre-season to America. That’s what I think is going to happen. Then they’ll see how he gets on.”

United paid an initial £19 million for Diallo in January 2021.

“I’m sure (Ten Hag) has been watching Amad’s clips from games, seeing what he can do. But he’ll need to see him on a daily basis and feel what he brings,” Mowbray adds.

“I’m sure everyone will have an opinion on whether he’s good enough or not good enough for Man United. But the reality is that the manager needs to watch him, see and feel him in a game. See what he brings.”