Erik ten Hag has been told to keep hold of youngster Amad Diallo amid interest from Feyenoord, after the Manchester United youngster impressed on loan at Sunderland.
Diallo spent the 2022/23 season on loan in the Championship with the Black Cats, with his 14 goals helping Tony Mowbray's side to the play-offs, where they lost in the semi-finals to Luton Town. He will now return to United and could stake a claim for a role in Ten Hag's first-team plans.
His outstanding campaign on Wearside has not gone unnoticed, however, for the winger has attracted interest from big clubs around Europe.
Dutch champions Feyenoord hold an interest over signing Amad this summer, according to 1908.nl (via Goal ). Feyenoord have been long-term admirers of the Ivorian and a deal to sign him on loan in 2021 fell through due to an injury sustained in United training.
He subsequently spent the season on loan with Rangers, making just 13 appearances for the Glasgow club during a mixed spell. Diallo has so far made nine first-team appearances for United, all coming during the 2020/21 season, with a single goal scored during a Europa League knockout tie against AC Milan.
After his performances this season, there is now plenty of expectation as to what lies in store for the 20-year-old. Such is the obvious talent which has been shown by Amad during his time in the north-east, United have been told to give the young winger a chance in the first-team for this season by former defender Rio Ferdinand, who discussed the player's future on his Vibe with Five show.
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"He is an interesting one," Ferdinand said. "He has got talent there is no doubting that. You can see the talent he has got but you can see he wasn’t robust enough at the time.
"But that loan at Sunderland, he left that place a hero, an absolute god. He plays on the right hand side too, a problem position for us."
One of ten Hag's first acts as United manager was to bring in Antony, with the left-footed Brazilian fulfilling a role on the right flank which Diallo has done throughout his career. Among Diallo's goals at Sunderland, many were scored from cutting inside onto his dangerous left-foot and it is thought that he could perform a similar role as a challenger to Antony next season.
"I know Antony has come in and done well but he is someone you can look at and say can he add something a bit different. I would like to see him given another opportunity." Ferdinand continued.
"There is a bit of unfinished business and I don’t know if he’s not good enough, not right for Man Utd or he is [good enough] because I haven’t seen enough."