Amad Diallo could save Man Utd millions after 'perfect Saturday'

Stuart Telford

• 16 Apr 2023 14:08 BST
• 4 min read

Amad Diallo fired Sunderland past Birmingham on Saturday, and the former Atalanta prodigy should be given a chance to impress at Manchester United next season.

United agreed to pay Atalanta a total of €40 million for Diallo's services in January 2021 - €25m up front with a further €15m to follow in add-ons - but for a long time he looked like another transfer blunder from a club who had become depressingly adept at them for fans.

Diallo had lit up Italian youth football with Atalanta, but only made nine appearances with United before being farmed out on loan to Rangers in Scotland and then Sunderland in the Championship at the start of this season.

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Black Cats manager Tony Mowbray demanded that the youngster add end product to his inarguable talent earlier this season, and Diallo has repaid him and then some.

Diallo scored Sunderland's second goal in their 2-1 win over Birmingham on Saturday, before taking to Twitter to describe it as his 'perfect Saturday'. He's been having more than a few of those of late.

Diallo's dazzling stats

Diallo's goal was his 12th of the current campaign. Add in his two assists and the 20-yearold Ivory Coast international has had a goal-involvement at rate of one every 160 minutes he has played - well inside a contribution every two games.

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It comes at a time when some of United's wide men are struggling to convince. Alejandro Garnacho is nascent while Marcus Rashford is their 27-goal top scorer this season, but few would describe the England man as more winger than wide forward.

United spent €100m on Ajax's Antony last summer, and €85m on Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund the summer before that, but neither have justified their price tag.

Antony has some big-game goals to his name - against Barcelona, Arsenal and Manchester City - but United might have expect a better return than his nine strikes in 37 outings.

Sancho has only tallied five in 29, and was sent for individual training and rehabilitation in Erik ten Hag's native Netherlands in December having been overlooked for England's World Cup squad.

United's summer transfer priority remains an No.9, with Harry Kane and Victor Osimhen at the top of their shopping list, but United are also open to adding a wide man to their attack, with Sunday's news that Barcelona have transfer listed Ansu Fati of particular interest to them.

But Fati would likely cost at least the €26.7m he is valued at by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, and Diallo is fast blossoming into a player that would save United the money, and the hassle.

It's time for Diallo to be given his shot at Old Trafford, and some more 'perfect Saturdays' might be theirs.