Man Utd Must Avoid Haaland Repeat On £6m Starlet

Following a relatively slow start to the window, things look to be hotting up for Manchester United at present, with the Red Devils having already wrapped up a deal for England international, Mason Mount.

As per The Athletic, the Old Trafford outfit have now lodged a bid for Inter Milan goalkeeper, Andre Onana amid the continued uncertainty over David De Gea's future at the club, with Erik ten Hag and co also said to have made a handful of offers for Atalanta's 20-year-old striker, Rasmus Hojlund, amid the search for a new number nine.

The latter man may not be the only exciting young talent who could be on his way to the Theatre of Dreams this summer, however, with The Guardian's Ed Aarons having reported this week that United are among the clubs to have "enquired" about the prospect of signing Red Bull Salzburg teenager, Oscar Gloukh.

The 19-year-old playmaker only joined the Austrian outfit on a €7m (£6m) deal back in January after starting his career at Maccabi Tel Aviv, although the Israeli international appears to have caught the eye of teams across Europe – with Barcelona also showing an interest in his progress.

Heralded as "one of the greatest talents in Europe" by pundit Luis Vicente Matteo, the midfield maestro appears to be "another jewel in Salzburg's collection of talents", according to talent scout Jacek Kulig, with the Bundesliga side having repeatedly churned out potential superstars in recent years.

The Red Devils were notably interested in signing striker Benjamin Sesko from the club prior to the Slovenian marksman agreeing a move to sister club RB Leipzig, although it is the inability to prise Erling Haaland from the Red Bull Arena that will particularly sting for the Premier League giants.

With competition evidently fierce for young Gloukh, United must not make the same mistake again…

Did Man United nearly sign Erling Haaland?

It remains a real source of frustration for United supporters that the Norwegian machine never made his way to Old Trafford, with former boss Ole Gunnar Solskajer having reportedly recommended the young hitman to United after coaching his compatriot at Molde.

erling-haaland-manchester-united

It was Haaland's stint at Salzburg which particularly captivated the attention of the Red Devils, however, as the Leeds-born menace scored 29 goals in just 27 games for the club across all fronts, sparking speculation that a move to England could be on the cards heading into the 2020 January transfer window.

As it proved, Ed Woodward and co were unable to clinch what would have been a notable coup as the explosive forward ultimately sealed a move to Borussia Dortmund, prior to wreaking havoc for neighbours Manchester City – for whom the 22-year-old scored 52 goals in just 53 games during a devastating debut campaign at the Etihad last time out.

For United to have come so close to wrapping up a deal over three years ago – with Solskjaer even meeting his representatives in the winter of 2019 – only to then fluff their lines remains a real blunder, with the aim likely not to make the same mistake again if they are serious about signing Gloukh.

Although the latter man is yet to emulate Haaland's impact at Salzburg, the teen machine has still contributed four goals and assists in just 17 games over the last six months, after previously chipping in with 17 goal involvements in 33 games during his stint in Tel Aviv.

Having also previously netted against England in last year's U19 European Championship final, the 5 foot 7 dynamo also sparkled against the Three Lions at U21 level on Wednesday evening, notably registering six key passes in that eventual 3-0 defeat as a marker of his exciting promise.

That performance may have alerted even more clubs to his impressive potential, hence why Ten Hag and co need to steal a march and get to the front of the queue, ensuring that United don't endure a repeat of their Haaland heartbreak.

مستشهدًا بـ لاعب الأهلي.. فيتوريا: نظام الاحتراف سبب مشاكل الكرة المصرية

وضع المدير الفني السابق لمنتخب مصر، روي فيتوريا، أسبابًا لمشاكل الكرة المصرية خلال الفترة التي قضاها مع الفراعنة من يوليو 2022 حتى فبراير 2024.

ورحل فيتوريا عن منتخب مصر بعد إقصاء الفراعنة من بطولة كأس أمم إفريقيا على يد الكونغو الديمقراطية بركلات الترجيح.

اقرأ أيضًا | فيتوريا: حذرت اتحاد الكرة المصري قبل كأس أمم إفريقيا.. وكنت أعمل على الجانب العاطفي

ولكن هناك أسباب من وجهة نظر البرتغالي كشف عنها في حواره عبر شبكة “Flash Score”، وقال: “نظام الاحترام في مصر يخلق المشاكل، هناك مواهب كثيرة في الدوري المحلي ولكن اللاعبين لا يغادرون لأوروبا للتطوير”.

وتابع: “هناك ثلاثة أندية مميزة في الدوري المصري الأهلي، الزمالك وبيراميدز، جميع اللاعبين بهم نجوم ويحصلون على رواتب أعلى من الكثير من الفرق الأوروبية”.

وأضاف: “هؤلاء اللاعبون لن يذهبوا إلى ليفربول وتشيلسي مباشرة بل لفرق أقل وعليهم التطور بها والانتقال لأندية أفضل، يجب أن يفعلوا مثل محمد صلاح، محمد النني وأحمد حجازي، لقد غادروا في سن صغير، هناك اعتقاد خاطئ أن اللاعب الذي يبلغ 24 عامًا في مصر فهو ما زال صغيرًا وهذا ما تحدثت عنه دائمًا”.

واستمر: “اللاعبون الشباب في مصر لا يشاركون في مباريات الدوري المصري لأن ليس لهم مكان، ولن تفكر الأندية الأوروبية في لاعب لديه 24 عامًا أو أكثر للتعاقد معه، كذلك اللاعبين عندما يصلون إلى هذا السن ويحققون تلك المبالغ الخرافية لن يتركوا ذلك ويذهبون إلى أوروبا”.

وانتقل فيتوريا للحديث عن مشكلة أخرى: “اللغة، اللاعبون في مصر لا يتحدثون سوى العربية فقط، هذا ما يصعب مهمتهم في أوروبا لأن الأمر مختلف تمامًا”.

وواصل: “إمام عاشور غادر الزمالك إلى ميتلاند مقابل 3 ملايين يورو وسجل في سبورتنج لشبونة في أول مباراة له في الدوري الأوروبي، ثم أصيب وبعد 3 أشهر عاد إلى الأهلي”.

وزاد: “لقد سمحت له في أحد المعسكرات بالوصول متأخرًا يومًا حتى يتزوج وتتمكن زوجته من السفر معه إلى الدنمارك، لأن من الأفضل أن يكون لديه دعم في الخارج ولا شيء أفضل من الزواج، لكنه عاد بعد ذلك إلى الأهلي”.

واختتم: “اللعب في الخارج، هو أمر يبحث عنه الكثير من اللاعبين مثلًا في أنجولا فهم يرغبون في البحث عن ملاعب أفضل وطرق تدريبية أفضل وحياة جديدة حتى لو دوري أوروبي صغير، هناك الكثير من المواهب التي تستحق اللعب خارجيًا مع تحسين حالتها المادية هذا ما يفعله الكثير من البرازيل، الأرجنتين وكذلك البرتغال”.

Liverpool Linked With Move For £100k-A-Week PL Ace

Liverpool have not given up hope of signing Southampton captain James Ward-Prowse this summer, as they wait for Saints to lower his price tag.

Have Liverpool been linked with Ward-Prowse move?

The 28-year-old did his best to keep the south coast club in the Premier League last season, scoring nine goals and chipping in with four assists in the competition, but they still finished bottom of the table last month.

With Southampton now heading into the Championship next term, it looks almost certain that Ward-Prowse will find a new club this summer, and Liverpool are one of the teams who have been backed to make a move for him.

The Reds are looking to do major surgery to their midfield before the start of next season, with Alexis Mac Allister already added, and it could that the Saints skipper is a target as the summer goes on.

James-Ward-Prowse-Southampton

What's the latest on Ward-Prowse to Liverpool?

According to The Daily Mail, Liverpool are "prepared to play the waiting game" with Ward-Prowse, with the report claiming that "prospective buyers have so far been put off Saints £50million asking price."

It goes on to add that "here is a feeling the south coast club will have to drop their asking price nearer the end of the window" with fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle United and West Ham both believed to be "monitoring" the situation ahead of possible bids for him.

Ward-Prowse would be a signing that could potentially divide opinion among the Liverpool fanbase, with positive and negatives surrounding the move. He is a hugely experienced player now, having made 343 appearances in the Premier League, while former Southampton manager Nathan Jones has even described him as "world-class", outlining his quality.

His set-piece delivery is magnificent – arguably as good as anyone in the country – but he is also strong off the ball, averaging 1.7 tackles and 1.4 interceptions per hame in the league last season.

That being said, Ward-Prowse does turn 29 later this year, meaning he wouldn't represent a long-term signing like Mac Allister, Khephren Thuram and Manu Kone, while the money that Saints could demand means it could be a poor value-for-money signing.

For that reason, Liverpool would be wise to steer clear of a move for the 11-time capped England international, unless Southampton drop their asking price significantly and the player himself is happy to sign a relatively short-term deal.

Man Utd Agree Terms With £70m Premier League Star

Manchester United have been in hot pursuit of Mason Mount over the last few weeks and now a new update has emerged on their pursuit of the player this summer.

What's the latest on Man United's move for Mason Mount?

According to The Times, the Chelsea midfielder has agreed personal terms to become a Man United player this summer.

As per the report, it is claimed that the Red Devils are closing in on making Mount their first signing of the summer with Erik ten Hag keen to add more creativity into his midfield set up this summer and Chelsea are keen to cash in to ensure they don't lose a huge asset on a free next summer.

Would Mason Mount be a good fit for Man United?

Whilst the most pressing concern for Erik ten Hag will be the centre-forward role this summer, an opportunity to strengthen the quality and attacking perspectives in the centre of the pitch is a chance they cannot afford to pass up on.

Although Man United boast a number of highly-respected talent in midfield it is definitely an area of the squad that is starting to age with Christian Eriksen, Casemiro and Fred all in their 30s at this point and other than Bruno Fernandes, are three of the most experienced first teamers.

mason-mount-chelsea-premier-league-man-united-transfers

As a result, the signing of Mount presents an opportunity for the Dutch coach to continue his rebuild at Old Trafford by injecting not only some youth into the midfield personnel but also maintaining a high level of quality and a winning mentality to match those decorated players who surround him.

The 24-year-old Champions League winner – who has been "unbelievable" in the words of Joe Cole – offers flexibility in his positioning with experience operating in a number of roles over his illustrious career so far, but could be the dream creative outlet that Ten Hag is searching for who can combine with one of his England teammates to make United an unstoppable force.

Marcus Rashford has been one of the standout performers on the red side of Manchester this season – tallying up 30 goals and 11 assists in all competitions with a goal contribution every 104 minutes, an impressive output unmatched by any player in the team as Fernandes came in second scoring less than half (14).

Now, Mount could provide the pacey winger with even more opportunities to convert chances by injecting some consistent creativity into the midfield and breaking the lines of attack to form a dangerous attacking threat.

The Chelsea academy graduate ranks in the top 15% of his positional peers in midfield across the top five European leagues for shot-creating actions, shots on goal, progressive carries, touches and progressive passes received, proving that he could be a key asset in playing that final ball into the box or even taking the goal-scoring opportunities for himself with confidence.

With that being said, it will be interesting to see how Ten Hag will deploy Mount if he joins the Red Devils this summer and whether he can reach the high expectations that will come with his reported £70m price tag next season.

فيديو | الاتحاد السعودي يتأهل لربع نهائي دوري أبطال آسيا في مباراة الأهداف الذاتية

اقتنص فريق الاتحاد السعودي بطاقة صعوده للدور ربع النهائي ببطولة دوري أبطال آسيا بفوز على نافباخور الأوزبكي بهدفين مقابل هدف.

المباراة أقيمت على ملعب استاد مدينة الملك عبد الله الرياضية، ضمن منافسات جولة الإياب للدور الـ16 لبطولة دوري أبطال آسيا.

وانتهت مباراة الذهاب التي أقيمت على ملعب ستاد المركزي بـ أوزبكستان بالتعادل السلبي.

تشكيل الاتحاد أمام نافباخور في دوري أبطال آسيا.. بنزيما أساسيًا وموقف أحمد حجازي

وافتتح فريق نافباخور التسجيل بهدف سجله المهاجم الفرنسي كريم بنزيما عن طريق الخطآ في مرماه بالدقيقة 25.

قبل أن يتعادل المهاجم المغربي عبد الرزاق حمد الله في الدقيقة السادسة من الوقت بدل الضائع للشوط الأول.

وشهدت الدقيقة 75 تسجيل كريم بنزيما هدفًا مستغلًا تمريرة أحمد حجازي ولكن راية تسلل تحول دون احتسابه.

وفي الدقيقة 88 آحرز الاتحاد الهدف الثاني بآقدام توما تابادزي نهاجم نافباخور عن طريق الخطأ في مرماه.

بتلك النتيجة يودع فريق نافباخور منافسات دوري أبطال آسيا ويتأهل الاتحاد إلى دور الثمانية.

وينتظر فريق الاتحاد بعد صعوده، الفائز من مباراة الهلال السعودي وسباهان أصفهان الإيراني التي تنطلق بعد قليل. أهداف مباراة الاتحاد ونافباخور

Sussex fume as Klinger stands his ground

Michael Klinger stayed put when Sussex’s debutant Christian Davies thought he had caught him on 29. The umpires ruled in his favour. He went on to an unbeaten century

Will Macpherson13-Aug-2016
ScorecardMichael Klinger chose not to walk – and finished with an unbeaten century•Getty ImagesWhen Michael Klinger punched Steve Magoffin to backward point, and the Sussex debutant Christian Davis dived forward, appearing to take a very fine low catch, he had 29. But as the fielders celebrated a wicket that would have left Gloucestershire reeling at 92 for five, Klinger was not for moving. He chose to leave the umpires to decide if the ball had carried and, after a lengthy conference, they decided he should stay. Sussex’s fielders initially appeared dumbfounded, but their lips loosened just in time for the exchange of some terse words.Klinger, almost inevitably, was still there at the close with a century to his name, with his team in the ascendancy after a disastrous start on a pitch he had elected to bat first on. On fine margins do such games turn.Sussex were within their rights to grumble (just as Klinger had been within his to stand his ground), but by day’s end they had let their outstanding start go to waste. Steve Magoffin, trotting in from the Sea End, had looked the force of old, picking up the Gloucestershire top three in his first six overs, and Jofra Archer had forced Hamish Marshall to edge to Chris Jordan, who took a fine catch at slip; Gloucestershire were ruinously placed at 34 for four.Magoffin took upwards of 28% of Sussex’s wickets during his first four years at the club, but his influence – on pitches often unkind to his art – has appeared to slightly wane this season, even if he still went into this game with his 25 wickets coming at 29. He was immediately into his work here, however, with his line, length and lots of lift making life uncomfortable for Gloucestershire. Will Tavare was bowled playing across the line, while Graeme van Buuren and Chris Dent pushed and were caught behind; the ball after the latter fell, Danny Briggs parried a very hard chance from Marshall in the gully. Never mind, Archer’s pace did for him shortly after.But then came some vintage Klinger fare; his driving was perfectly precise and his judgment outside off stump perfect, while he was always alive to the possibility of a single. On a day when the outside edge was beaten plenty, it is hard to recall the beaten blade being his. His contentious reprieve was his sole false stroke. He never really needed to put his foot down, but late in the day there was a nonchalant flick for six over midwicket and his cuts had more purpose too.”Given the position he went in on,” reflected his coach, Richard Dawson, “it was a massive achievement to be there at the end. He just took it ball by ball. He’s a soldier, he just carries on going. He’s a consistent person, the way he trains, he’s very honest, he wants to succeed and is hungry and wants to make big runs. If he gets low scores, he doesn’t let it get him down. It’s very simple – he knows his strengths and he sticks to them, and the bottom line is that he’s a quality bloke.”Klinger anchored three vital stands. First, 133 with Phil Mustard, playing his first innings of note for Gloucestershire, a typically roistering affair full of punchy cuts and beautiful off-drives, before he was bowled trying to slog Briggs. Then there was 62 with Jack Taylor, who never fully settled as he looked to open up the offside and, after Taylor and Benny Howell fell in quick succession, an unbeaten 109 with Craig Miles, who had an aggressive half-century by the close of play.It was during the stand with Miles that Sussex seemed to rather drop their bundle. Twice, four overthrows whistled away to the fence and, on a pitch where the new ball is key (as evidenced by Magoffin first thing), their performance with the second one was profligate. As the seamers inexplicably dug the ball in, Ben Brown had to be at his most athletic behind the stumps, and still 18 byes slipped through. Miles, to his credit, batted like a man auditioning for a promotion, accumulating adroitly then feasting on Sussex’s flagging seamers late on.”It was a niggly day, and one of the most difficult to watch this season,” said Sussex’s coach Mark Davis, “because we were in a good position and it didn’t quite go our way on occasions too. We weren’t good enough to make our own luck. The new ball is key on this pitch because the ball is getting soft quickly and when it does get soft it gets harder to get people out. We didn’t bowl well enough with it.”On Klinger’s reprieve, Davis veered on the side of diplomacy. “The umpires are there to make a decision, they made that decision and we have to move on,” he said. “It’s done, it’s massively frustrating – I thought it just went straight to backward point and the umpires conferred and that was that. It’s game-changing, and certainly day-changing. It is what it is, that happens in sport, and we’ve got to move on.”He was right, the umpires had made a game-changing decision. But he also knew that going into day two, his side had plenty to bemoan besides Klinger’s prosperous pardon.

Spurs Could Find Their Own Odegaard In £26m Dynamo

The major priority for Tottenham Hotspur this summer will be on finding a new permanent manager ahead of next season, although the Lilywhites will also have to begin thinking about potential new recruits in order to bolster the current squad.

According to reports in Spain, one man who could well be a possible target for the north London outfit is Crystal Palace sensation, Eberechi Eze, with the piece suggesting that the 24-year-old is valued at around €30m (£26m).

The former Queen's Park Rangers playmaker – who made the move to Selhurst Park on a £20m deal back in 2020 – has enjoyed another standout campaign with the Eagles, with the Daily Mail only recently claiming that the exciting talent is in contention for a senior England call-up.

There does appear a need for Spurs to bolster their attacking options amid the growing uncertainty surrounding Dejan Kulusevski's long-term future at N17, with claims in Italy suggesting that the Premier League side may not sign the on-loan Juventus man on a permanent basis.

Would Eze be a good signing for Spurs?

A player capable of genuine moments of "magic" – as previously hailed by ex-teammate Christian Benteke – Eze has evidently put himself on the radar of Daniel Levy and co due to his impressive recent form, having now scored ten goals and provided three assists in 36 top-flight games this season.

The fleet-footed dynamo has been particularly electric in recent weeks after scoring six goals in just his last seven league games, including a clinical brace during Saturday's 2-0 win over AFC Bournemouth.

Such an impact has seen the £30k-per-week magician earn notable praise from teammate Joel Ward in the aftermath of that comfortable triumph over the Cherries, with the experienced defender stating:

"Ebs’ quality is incredible, with what he does on the ball, the way he manipulates it and the way he just seems to glide over the pitch – it’s mesmerising at times."

While capable of playing on the flanks, the one-time Wycombe Wanderers loanee has particularly thrived in a central midfield berth this season after scoring eight times in just 13 games in that role, ensuring he offers a great deal of versatility to any potential suitor.

As far as Tottenham are concerned, it may be of interest that Eze is said to share a number of statistical and stylistic similarities with Arsenal skipper, Martin Odegaard, according to FBref, with the two men both offering a real creative spark in the centre of the pitch.

Arsenal's Martin Odegaard

That likeness between the pair is showcased by the fact that they can simply glide forward with the ball at their feet, with Eze ranking in the top 15% among his European peers for progressive carries, while Odegaard ranks in the top 14% in that regard.

The two men also possess a real willingness to impact proceedings in the final third as the Palace ace ranks in the top 12% for touches in the attacking penalty area, while the Gunners maestro ranks in the top 2% in that same metric.

While it may pain Spurs supporters to admit, Odegaard has been a truly immense presence at the Emirates this season having contributed 15 goals and eight assists in the league alone for Mikel Arteta's side, with the Lilywhites likely wishing to have their own version of the impactful Norwegian.

With the signing of Eze, however, Levy could well find Tottenham's answer to the former Real Madrid man, such is their likeness.

Tottenham: Mason must unleash £28m "beast" on Liverpool

Tottenham Hotspur know a defeat would put a serious dent in their chances of making a late push for the top four when they travel to Anfield to face Liverpool in the Premier League this afternoon.

Under the stewardship of interim coach Ryan Mason once more, the Lilywhites came from behind to earn a point against Manchester United in midweek and will be hoping to build on that form today.

The Reds, meanwhile, could leapfrog Spurs with a victory, so a lot is at stake and after such a poor start to the season, the Merseyside giants are finally starting to show some life by going unbeaten in their last five outings, including 13 goals in their last four matches.

Of course, a frontline containing Mohamed Salah is always going to be dangerous and Mason must plan for his threat, particularly if Trent Alexander-Arnold reverts back to his natural right-back role.

Will Ivan Perisic or Ben Davies start vs Liverpool?

As such, the 31-year-old caretaker could be taking far too much of a risk to start Ivan Perisic at left wing-back.

The Croatian vet has delivered three goal contributions in his last six top-flight appearances and leads the squad for total assists (seven) but he may lack the defensive nous and speed to combat Salah and Alexander-Arnold for 90 minutes.

Indeed, 12 other players in the current squad average more tackles and interceptions per 90 than Perisic, whilst he ranks third overall for challenges lost (0.80 per 90), via FBref, which may suggest that he'd be in for a rather trick afternoon against a player that has scored 27 goals and provided 11 assists across 45 appearances this term.

Salah's threat is undoubted, though to reinforce that, he ranks fourth in the Premier League for total shots on target and expected goals, as per FBref.

It could, therefore, be wise for Mason to opt for the more defensively-sound and "reliable player" Ben Davies – as once lauded by his former manager Antonio Conte.

Tottenham Hotspur's Ben Davies scores their second goal with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg

As a natural left-back, the £28m-rated Wales stalwart has often been deployed as a left-sided centre-back in a back-three and very rarely as a wing-back.

However, in the four appearances he has been deployed there, Spurs are unbeaten, having kept two clean sheets against West Ham United and Chelsea. He even popped up with an assist against the former too.

Having once been hailed as a "beast of a player" and "world-class" by statistical analyst Ben Griffis only last year, the 30-year-old could be an ideal candidate to help silence Salah and co at Anfield later this afternoon.

He – and likely Clement Lenglet – could double up on him down the left-hand side, allowing Heung-min Son some space to counter-attack Alexander-Arnold, who himself is rather suspect defensively.

Spurs rarely defeat Liverpool, especially on their own turf, but Mason could aid his team's chances by unleashing Davies over Perisic in his starting XI, given the evidence above.

Aston Villa Eyeing 24 y/o Besiktas Midfielder

Aston Villa are reportedly interested in a move for Besiktas midfielder Gedson Fernandes.

What’s the latest news on Villa and Fernandes?

Unai Emery has transformed Villa since arriving at the club back in November and has the club pushing for European football after a fine run of form in the Premier League.

The Spaniard has only made two signings in Alex Moreno and Jhon Duran but already appears to be planning for his first full season in charge at Villa Park. Christian Purslow is expecting a busy summer, with journalist Ashley Preece stating that a new forward is top of the transfer wishlist, while the defence will also be bolstered.

It looks as if a new midfielder is also on the agenda over the coming months, with links emerging to Fernandes in the last 48 hours.

Turkish outlet Fanatik shared a transfer update regarding Fernandes and a number of other Besiktas players. When it came to the midfielder, they claimed that Villa, along with Premier League rivals Fulham and Crystal Palace are interested in securing his services this summer alongside Italian clubs Roma and Lazio.

Who is Gedson Fernandes?

Fernandes is 24 years of age and is primarily a central midfielder who can also play in an advanced role or on the right-hand side. Sponsored by Nike, the Portugal international was previously on the books of Benfica where he had a £102m release clause and was attracting interest from the likes of Manchester United back in 2019.

His Transfermarkt valuation stood at €22m (£19m) then, but his career has suffered a decline, with that figure falling to €6.5m (£5.7m) prior to joining Besiktas last summer.

Fernandes has been a regular during the current campaign for Besiktas, making 29 appearances in all competitions. As per WhoScored, Fernandes has attempted more dribbles per game than any player and has averaged a match rating of 6.98/10 this season, a better score than any Villa performer, showing that he may be finding his feet once more.

He has previous experience in the Premier League after spending time on loan with Tottenham, coming up against Villa and winning his only meeting at Villa Park.

It looks as if his displays in recent months have caught the eye of those at Villa Park, so a summer swoop could well be one to keep an eye on over the coming months as Emery looks to take the club to the next level.

Sunderland Dealt Blow On Deal For "Insane" £28k-p/w Star

Sunderland have been dealt a transfer blow after learning that Amad Diallo is set to be given a chance in the senior first-team at Manchester United next season, according to reports.

What's the latest on Amad's future?

The Ivory Coast international first made the move to the northeast when he put pen to paper on a season-long loan last summer. During his 36 appearances to date, he has taken the Championship by storm, becoming Tony Mowbray’s top-performing offensive player.

The Black Cats don’t have the option included in their terms to buy the winger permanently, meaning that they would have to negotiate with the Red Devils should they want him back for good next season, and whilst the boss has already admitted that’s what he wants, said that it’s “unlikely” he will be returning.

The Old Trafford starlet also hasn’t helped the cause by publicly revealing during an interview with FourFourTwo that it’s his “dream” to play regular football with Erik Ten Hag’s side and his intentions appear to be very much in line with that of the Dutchman.

According to Manchester Evening News, Ten Hag is “open” to including Amad as part of his senior first-team squad for the 2023/24 campaign. The United boss and the remainder of his coaching staff are “pleased” with the significant development and progress that he’s made.

Ten Hag is “likely” to name the 20-year-old as part of his pre-season tour squad who are jetting off to the United States, with two friendlies in Europe scheduled before leaving for the Atlantic Coast on July 19. The Red Devils did have the option to recall the forward at the start of the year but chose not to as a result of his solid run of form in the northeast, though the chances of seeing him at the Stadium of Light beyond the summer are slim.

Sunderland forward Amad Diallo.

Will losing Amad be a blow for Sunderland?

Since joining Sunderland, Amad has been hailed an “insane” player by journalist Josh Bunting and it’ll be a massive blow for Mowbray that he’s set to lose one of his most standout performers of this season.

The £28k-per-week ace has clocked up 15 goal contributions (12 goals and three assists) during his time in red and white and has recorded a total of 49 shots which is the second highest of the whole squad, just three behind Jack Clarke on 52, via FBRef.

Amad has also been an extremely versatile player having operated in five various positions this term, including in the midfield and across the frontline, so is a great option for the boss to have at his disposal, though he won’t be available for much longer so supporters will have to enjoy him whilst they still can.

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