£19m Man Utd star ‘prefers’ return to old club as Ten Hag ‘sanctions’ major ‘swap’ deal
According to reports, Leeds United target Amad Diallo would ‘prefer’ to return to Championship outfit Sunderland if he leaves Man Utd this summer.
Diallo made the move to Man Utd from Serie A side Atalanta at the start of 2021 for an initial fee of around £19m.
The winger has been restricted to just nine senior appearances for the Red Devils since this transfer and he’s had spells on loan at Rangers and Sunderland in recent years.
The 20-year-old spent the whole 2022/23 season in the Championship with Sunderland and he made the most of this opportunity. He grabbed 14 goals and three assists for the Black Cats as they challenged for promotion to the Premier League.
Speaking last month, Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray predicted that Diallo will join Man Utd on their pre-season tour in America.
“It would be great if we could say, ‘Let’s keep that story going’,” Mowbray said.
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“The kid, he would do it again. He is playing every week, he scores, the fans love him.
“I think Manchester United are happy, but 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. I’m sure [Erik ten Hag has] been watching Amad’s clips from games.
“Just as I watch all of our players who are out on loan. But he’ll need to see him on a daily basis and feel what he brings.”
But transfer expert Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Diallo’s “future is open” and Man Utd will make a “final decision” on him “in the next few weeks”.
Diallo “hopes” for a chance for United but Romano claims his “preference” would be to spend another season with Sunderland if he’s loaned out again.
The Mirror meanwhile are reporting that Leeds United are ‘on the trail’ of Diallo following their relegation from the Premier League.
A loan move to Elland Road is apparently a ‘possibility’ as Jack Harrison and Wilfried Gnonto are being linked with a return to the Premier League.
Earlier this month, it was claimed that Erik ten Hag would ‘sanction’ Diallo’s return to Serie A outfit Atalanta on loan if it was part of United’s deal to sign Rasmus Hojlund, who is valued at around £86m.
Following his stellar debut season at Atalanta, Hojlund is one of United’s main striker targets but they are also looking at Frankfurt’s Randal Kolo Muani.
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