Is Amad Diallo the solution as Man Utd search for an attacker?

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 3 Jan 2023 22:54 GMT
• 4 min read

Manchester United are struggling to afford a new attacker in the January transfer window, but in Amad Diallo, they have one on their books already who is in fantastic form…

United aren't exactly strapped for cash - they remain perhaps the most marketable brand in world football if not all of sport - but with the Glazer family having made the club available for sale in November, they are reluctant to spend big on a player with new owners inbound.

It is reportedly for that reason that the Red Devils missed out on Cody Gakpo recently. A long-time transfer target of Erik ten Hag, the Dutch winger joined Liverpool for €57 million after United had tried to negotiate an initial loan deal with PSV Eindhoven before making his move permanent next summer.

READ: How Man Utd flop Amad Diallo has been REBORN at Sunderland

Atletico Madrid's Joao Felix has also been touted, but the Spanish side want €8m up front for any loan deal for the Portuguese, and even this could prove prohibitively expensive given the current climate at Old Trafford.

But Diallo's form could save United a headache. The youngster is on loan at Sunderland in the Championship and has scored six goals in his last 11 starts - a fine return for a player who prefers playing out wide than right up front.

'He's made really good progress'

"We consider everything, but I have a little bit of reservation about is because I don't want to stop the process," Ten Hag told the Manchester Evening News when asked about United's option to recall Diallo in January.

READ: 10 players who could join Man Utd in January

"He has made really good progress there so I'm happy with that. But young players need experiences and when we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting XI or minimum to come on for a lot of games and make an impact."

Diallo joined United from Atalanta in 2021 in a €40m deal after lighting up Italian youth football, but struggled to impress initially and was sent on loan to Rangers last season.

His profile could bring another benefit, quote aside from his newfound attacking efficiency - another winger would allow Marcus Rashford to move up front on a full-time basis, at least until another No.9 is signed under new ownership next summer.

Rashford scored his sixth goal of the Premier League campaign - and 11th in all competitions - coming off the bench to grab the winner against Wolves last Saturday.