Promotion hopefuls Southampton are keen to add to their squad in January and could make a very ambitious approach from one of the Championship’s top talents from the previous campaign.
According to Football Insider, the Saints are pushing to sign Manchester United winger Amad Diallo on loan following his fruitful campaign with Sunderland last season. The outlet are also claiming that Southampton are long-term admirers of the Ivory Coast international.
Diallo is currently on £29k-per-week with the English giants and could be an expensive loan signing for the club on the south coast.
The youngster was sent out on loan to the Black Cats in the previous campaign and finished as the club’s top goalscorer, bagging 14 goals in 42 appearances under head coach Tony Mowbray as Sunderland reached the playoff semi-finals.
His impressive displays on Wearside earned him the Championship Fans’ Player of the Year as well as Sunderland’s Young Player of the Year awards for the 2022/23 season before he eventually returned to Old Trafford.
However, Diallo picked up a nasty knee injury in pre-season with the Red Devils and has been ruled out of action ever since, although the Ivorian has since returned to training and could be back in United’s squad over the coming weeks.
https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/1737843615823782246
It was previously reported that Sunderland were keen to bring Diallo back to the Stadium of Light in January, but sources revealed to The Real EFL back in November that the player is keen to stay at the Theatre of Dreams to fight for his place in Erik ten Hag’s first-team.
Regardless, the decision may be taken out of his hands if the club feel as though the winger needs another loan move to get up to scratch.
Writer’s View
Given Manchester United’s struggles up top, there is a really good chance that Diallo could potentially break into the first-team over the coming months, meaning a move to the St. Mary’s Stadium seems unlikely.
That being said, if Southampton can manage to sign the 21-year-old when the winter window opens in less than two weeks, it would be a superb acquisition for Russell Martin given his Championship-proven quality.
Deputy Head of Writing
