Amad Diallo has had a suit reserved in his measurements for next month's FA Cup final between Manchester United and Manchester City, according to reports.
The 20-year-old Ivory Coast international, who joined United from Italian side Atalanta in 2019 for a reported £19 million, has only made a handful of first-team appearances in the famous red.
He has, however, impressed on loan at Championship side Sunderland of late. In fact, Diallo has played a crucial role in the Black Cats securing a play-off spot, scoring 13 goals in 37 league games.
After such a prolific spell at the Stadium of Light, it appears the highly-rated forward could well feature in Erik ten Hag's plans for next season.
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Diallo will be invited to the FA Cup final on June 3, according to the Manchester Evening News, because United want him 'to feel involved' ahead of his much-anticipated return.
That means if Sunderland beat Luton Town and reach the play-off final on May 27, Diallo will return to Wembley just a week after playing for Tony Mowbray's side.
In the aftermath of their latest win over Preston, Diallo suggested that he could stay at Sunderland beyond the current season.
"Playing against Luton is very hard but I hope we’ll be in the Premier League next season and maybe I’ll come back, I don’t know," he said.
In the past, Erik ten Hag has admitted he has reservations over Diallo's role in the squad. He also decided against recalling the winger from his loan spell in January.
"We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about [recalling Amad] because I don’t want to stop the process," he said. "He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that.
"But young players need experiences and when we decide for him to come back, he has to be a player who can compete for the starting XI or minimum to come on for a lot of games and make an impact.
"I didn’t see him in the starting XI or a player who had already had an impact (in pre-season). But I see and value and his potential and capabilities."
Ten Hag added: "What I saw is that he needs experience in men’s football, senior football. I think there are many aspects of football to get strong physically and mentally, and also skills-wise, to improve and develop that so he can have value for us."
Thoughts on Diallo's future? Should Ten Hag give him a chance to prove himself at Old Trafford?
Let us know in the comments.
Topics: Erik Ten Hag, Amad Diallo, Manchester United, Premier League, Sunderland, FA Cup, Manchester City
Jack Kenmare