“Erik Ten Hag must be licking his lips” – Sunderland/Man United deal for Amad Diallo – A surprise in hindsight? The verdict | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict‘ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Amad Diallo is enjoying himself at Sunderland right now.

The Man United man has recorded seven league goals and two assists and is emerging as one of the league’s standout players this season.

His form has led Black Cats boss Tony Mowbray to say things like this: “Amad Diallo, how on earth we got him on loan is amazing because he is like a magician.”

So with all this in mind… In hindsight, are you surprised Sunderland managed to secure someone of the pedigree of Amad Diallo on loan from Man Utd for the season?

No, I’m not surprised given how low Amad Diallo’s stock had fallen ahead of his loan move to Sunderland.

It’s easy to look at the attacker now and marvel at what, in reflection, is certainly a phenomenal bit of recruitment from the Black Cats.

But after a disappointing loan spell at Rangers last term and a few fairly stale years at Man United, there were some suggestions that he could become an expensive bust.

It would’ve been a surprise to see a Premier League make a move for him at that point while an English loan looked a smart call given the Old Trafford outfit were looking to get him used to football in this country.

So the Championship was a natural fit and Sunderland were the lucky beneficiaries – though calling it luck doesn’t give the club chiefs the credit they deserve.

That said, I wasn’t expecting him to make the impact he has. What a signing.

Sunderland have probably benefited from Diallo’s loan spell at Rangers in the second half of last season not going as well as the Red Devils would have hoped.

With the emergence of Alejandro Garnacho, the signing of Antony and Facundo Pellistri stepping up to first team level, it was probably best for Diallo’s development for him to head out on loan, although they may have considered sending him to a lower end Premier League club.

United may have considered a January recall and then re-deployment the Ivorian out at a higher level for the rest of the campaign, but then again, the Black Cats may be fortunate that it took Diallo some time to establish himself as a starter and therefore he was not at the level that he is now, when January came around.

In hindsight I am somewhat surprised, it’s a massive coup.

Diallo was an expensive purchase for Man United from Atalanta and had shown real flashes of quality albeit in cameo appearances for the Red Devils.

The winger had a loan stint in the SPFL with Rangers and that didn’t go to plan so his stock had fallen a little, ultimately that’s how Sunderland were able to capitalise here.

What an absolutely phenomenal signing he has been though and he’s someone I view as being too good for the Championship, he has terrorised opposition defences all season with him now a vital cog in Tony Mowbray’s promotion chasing Sunderland side.

Erik Ten Hag must be licking his lips.. The player is still only 20 years old and has a scary amount of time to develop and become a more rounded player – I could see him becoming a permanent fixture in the Red Devils side in the next few years if he continues on the same trajectory.

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