Sunderland target Amad Diallo doesn’t want to join any Championship club this month.
Amad Diallo became a fan favourite on Wearside last season as he netted 14 goals in 39 games in the Championship.
The Ivorian scored some stunning goals for Sunderland, one of which came in the play-offs against Luton Town, which resulted in him kissing the badge of his loan club.
The appreciation between the two parties was there, and the Black Cats were desperate to continue the love story into the current campaign, but ended their pursuit when Amad picked up a serious injury.
Now back to full fitness, Sunderland are one of a number of clubs that were still chasing Amad’s signature.
Recent reports had claimed that it was Middlesbrough who were leading the race for the midfielder, though an Instagram story shared on his social media seemed to suggest otherwise.
However, it now looks like even Sunderland won’t be landing Amad, with Fabrizio Romano confirming that Manchester United have ‘no plans’ to move him on in January.
The youngster also wouldn’t want to join any other Championship club to ‘respect’ Sunderland.
Writing on X, Romano said: “Amad Diallo has no plans to leave Man United on loan in January. Director conversation with Ten Hag took place to confirm his intention to stay at #MUFC.
“No current plan on player side for any loan to Championship clubs including Boro, Amad wants to ‘respect’ Sunderland.”
Will we sign an Amad alternative?
The longer the January window went on, it did start to feel like we were clutching at straws a bit in our pursuit of Amad Diallo.
It is very frustrating because we probably would have signed him in the summer if he hadn’t been sidelined, though Manchester United could well have recalled him this month when they started to realise they were in trouble.
The midfielder looks set to earn more minutes under Erik ten Hag as they struggle for form, and could well displace Antony in the starting line-up.
I will be delighted for Amad if he can make his mark in the Premier League and help the Red Devils find some form, while it makes me love him even more that he has refused to go to the Championship if it isn’t to Wearside.
Seeing him play for Middlesbrough would have quite simply broken me, especially if he had helped them reach the play-offs whilst we sat mid-table by April.
The problem is definitely replacing Amad though, because his absence has been glaringly obvious this term.
The 21-year-old is one of the best loanees we have ever had at the Stadium of Light, and it really won’t be easy to find someone that good. In fact, I highly doubt we will even look for an attacking midfielder this month now.