Manchester United fans are getting very excited by the ‘seriously talented’ Amad Diallo ahead of next season — and rightly so
At just 20-years-old, he's arguably been not just Sunderland's best player all season but one of the best in the Championship. Is he ready for the Premier League?
With the 2022/23 campaign now drawing to a close, Manchester United are on the verge of securing top-four and perhaps even an FA Cup, but most fans are already looking towards the next season and what aspects they can build on — the squad being the most obvious answer.
It only took a few injuries and suspensions to reveal that Erik ten Hag‘s options were much thinner than first thought, with several players in key positions suffering setbacks throughout the season, including Raphael Varane, Marcus Rashford, Casemiro, Marcel Sabitzer and, of course, Lisandro Martinez.
However, rather than dipping straight into the transfer market, fans are delighted to have received regular reminders throughout the season that there’s already an existing Red who could be added into the mix come August: Amad Diallo.
The 20-year-old is on the books at United but has spent the year on loan at Sunderland, where he has enjoyed a seriously impressive campaign and has been dubbed by many as “one of the signings of the season”. Here’s one of his most recent from the Championship play-off semi-final on 13 May:
Ok, so the youngster can hit a naughty little free-kick which happened to come in a big game — not totally unheard of, but why exactly are people getting so excited by Amad’s game on the whole?
Not only does that happen to be more than any other Sunderland player but it also saw him win the EFL’s Young Player of the Month for January and the club’s Young Player of the Year award in April.
Moreover, he does have a tendency to score the odd banger. Just a few days before scoring the goal shown above, he netted this absolutely wonderful first-time strike in an equally important game which saw the Black Cats cement their spot in the playoff positions:
Amad Deserves a chance next season what a player 👏
As you can see, United fans are understandably very excited by clips like these and for anyone that’s actually sat down to watch him this year, you’ll know that he’s often looked like one of the best players on the pitch, even regardless of his limited experience.
Not only was he the club’s top goalscorer this season, sitting in 11th overall in the league table when it comes to the number of goal contributions, but he’s regularly the one driving the attacking impetus for Tony Mowbray’s side week in, week out.
Speaking of his progress, the Sunderland boss recently said that Amad is an “amazing player” and often “finds the game too easy”, adding that even if he doesn’t play for United next season, he will go for “big, big money”, having already pretty much accepted he’s unlikely to return to the Stadium of Light.
Following his massive equaliser against Luton Town, even Gary Lineker felt he had to jump on Twitter to laud the Ivorian starlet, labelling him a “seriously talented” prospect.
Stunning goal from the seriously talented Amad Diallo. A thing of beauty that levels it.
His incisive passing, driving forward runs and fine finishing might not have been enough to see Sunderland all the way through to the playoff final, losing 3-2 on aggregate to Luton, but he’s already done more than enough to prove he’s one of Europe’s brightest prospects.
Sharing an emotional and disappointed statement after the defeat, social media was awash with people praising him as “the best loan signing ever” and some even going so far as to call him the best player the club has had in years.
Erik ten Hag has already admitted that he hopes to have Amad feature in United’s first-team squad from next season, insisting that “we loan such players to let them develop and make progress, to bring them back”, and it is thought both he and fellow youngster Facundo Pellistri will be given a proper audition for regular football during the upcoming pre-season.
With testimonials like this, it’s surely worth seeing how he fares.
The last chapter of the the Amad Diallo loan spell tonight, one of the best players we’ve had in years. We’ve waited a long time to see a player like that grace the Stadium of Light again, the boy is special, maybe just maybe our best loan signing of all time. A joy to witness.
He went on the state that the club is “really strong on them in the matter of the way [they] mentor” and maintain regular “communication throughout the season… especially Darren Fletcher”, adding that the former United midfielder turned coach and current technical director “invests a lot in such processes and the aim is to bring them back as a better player and with better experience.”
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, United are already in talks to extend Pellistri’s contract even after only a handful of appearance and it looks increasingly likely that they will do the same with Amad, with the journalist insisting that he “dreams more than anyone” of being given a chance in the first-team.
United might still be missing an out-and-out striker in their forward line but it’s safe to say that their wide attacking options for next season look promising with Amad back at Old Trafford.
Featured Image — Sunderland (via Twitter)/Amad Diallo (via Instagram)
Sport
The latest on Salford Red Devils financial situation as ‘winding-up’ petition is adjourned
Danny Jones
The current situation at Salford Red Devils is far from ideal, with the rugby league team currently owing hundreds of thousands of pounds in debt, not to mention facing further stress over finances with players owed wages, key personnel leaving and remaining uncertainty over future ownership.
So, why is the board expressing reassurance among supporters following the recent adjournment of a ‘winding-up’ petition, and what exactly does this mean?
It is no doubt a complex issue, but with the season concluding in October and the Greater Manchester club essentially being given a stay of execution, for lack of a better phrase, it’s possible that a corner could hopefully be turned soon.
Here’s everything we know so far about the situation in Salford and where the Red Devils’ finances are currently at.
Salford Red Devils’ finances and more – explained
For a start, they’re late on payroll again this month.
Salford Red Devils players have been told they will not receive their salaries today.https://t.co/ofHTR0uZyN
According to recent reports, Salford Red Devils owe more than half a million pounds to His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) at present, with current estimates said to be in the region of £600,000.
The Super League side has fallen into debt due to a number of factors: their own performance as a business, cuts to local funding and a period of spending in terms of recruitment and pre-season preparation under the assumption of a subsidy from Salford City Council (SCC).
However, this would-be uplift – despite it being promised late last year – never came as the Council (having already provided £315k in ‘immediate’ financial aid back in March 2024) U-turned on the decision after it was revealed further backing was not in the budget.
SCC ended up owing around £2 million itself after stepping in to save both SRD and fellow rugby league outfit Swinton Lions, handing out loans to both clubs even prior to purchasing Salford Community Stadium and the surrounding area.
The Council ultimately shelled out north of £7.7m to buy the ground and sever commercial ties with previous owners, Peel. They had hoped to further alleviate pressure on the club, but Salford Red Devils (SRD) had already spent the money they were expecting to receive on new players, training and more.
SRD were then told to sell off a number of players by the league.
With all this in mind, something called a ‘winding-up’ petition – basically a document sent by creditors that demands the immediate liquidation of a company/organisation that owes them money – was filed by HMRC back in May, with the tax authorities demanding payment of the outstanding sum.
However, special dispensation appears to have been made not only due to the complicated and unforeseen circumstances Salford have faced along the way, but also for the sake of the Rugby Football League (RFL) itself, with the Red Devils still seen as a valuable sporting and community asset.
One of those unexpected twists was the takeover by a new consortium led by Dario Berta, whose investment failed to clear in time and resulted in the club being hit with the financial sustainability problem that saw them cutbacks.
In a small bit of good fortune, it has now been decided that the petition to liquidate the SRD has been postponed, though not indefinitely.
As expected, there is good news that the winding-up petition filed by HMRC against Salford Red Devils has been successfully adjourned by the club's representatives in London until after the season has finished in September.
It's important to focus on supporting Salford as they…
— The Game Caller 🗣🎙📻 (@TheGameCaller) June 25, 2025
What could happen next?
The date for coughing up what debt they owe to the tax authorities has now been pushed back to September, meaning they have until then to find the finances, or else they could very well be made insolvent in a matter of months.
However, as per BBC Radio Manchester, those involved in the ongoing process are “confident” that bridging loans will be put in place over the coming days to keep HMRC at bay.
And, nevertheless, head coach Paul Rowley has insisted that he can see “green shoots” starting to emerge around the club, despite still sitting bottom of the table with just one win to their name.
What’s for sure is that the local area isn’t giving up on them, with numerous fundraisers and charity events being set up to help support the club via the official Salford Red Devils Foundation.
Fingers firmly crossed that there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Wigan Athletic sign third forward of the summer window so far
Danny Jones
Greater Manchester side Wigan Athletic have announced yet another summer signing with the arrival of 22-year-old Dara Costelloe.
Not only is he the fourth acquisition of the transfer window so far, but the now ex-Burnley prospect is the third new forward picked up by Wigan ahead of the 2025/26 season.
The Irish striker, who started out in the youth academy at Galway United before breaking into the senior team and being bought by the Clarets, has spent the last couple of years on loan, representing five different clubs since 2023.
Having most recently been at Northampton Town, scoring six times in 15 games, he finished the previous campaign with a total of a dozen goal involvements from 36 appearances – a direct contribution in nearly every other game. Now he’ll be tasked with finding similar success with another League One outfit.
𝘿𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙏𝙞𝙘! 💙
The exciting striker arrives from Burnley on a three-year deal, with the option of a further year! 🤝#wafc 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/9VzrqDR5uL
Commenting on the move, the youngster said in an official club statement: “I’m delighted to get the move over the line. It’s been a great day for me and my family – I brought my Dad over with me, and having seen the stadium, we definitely made the right choice.
“It is a great Club, and I cannot wait to get started. I’ve spoken to the Gaffer [Ryan Lowe] for quite a bit, and the plan that was outlined is to get this Club back to the Championship. That’s my ambition as well, so we’ll try to achieve that.
“I’ve seen the strikers the Gaffer has worked with, and how he’s helped progress their careers. Hopefully, he can do the same with me.”
As a retired forward himself, the strikers Costelloe is referring to include Southampton’s Cameron Archer, fellow Irishman and ex-Spurs graduate Troy Parrott, as well as former Man City, Ipswich and now Chelsea marksman, Liam Delap, who was on the radar of several teams this summer.
Speaking of Lowe, the Latics head coach confessed, “Dara is a forward who I have admired for some time, and I’m delighted he’s decided to come to us. [He] has all the attributes we are seeking in a new signing – and is hungry, ambitious, and wanting to improve.
“He is a real threat in the final third, and already has experience at this level following his successful spell at Northampton last season.
“Dara adds to the attacking options we have at [Wigan], and we’re looking forward to working with him and helping him to develop his game further. It enables us to have some really healthy competition in the striking department, which will spur each of the lads on throughout the season.
Not only is it usually reassuring to hear when a manager secures a talent they’ve been keen on for a while (the assumption being that they’ve done their due diligence and the player has been well scouted), but it says a lot about the 46-year-old’s ambition for this season by picking up three new attackers.
Snatching his permanent signature from a division rival is a nice bonus, too.
Wigan didn’t score enough goals in 24/25, simple as – finishing in 15th on minus two goal difference after registering just 40; that being said, the signing of Dara Costelloe, Christian Saydee, and most notably, prolific English forward, Paul Mullin, should help bolster those numbers to kick off this new era.
There’s certainly plenty of excitement surrounding the Wrexham hero on loan for the season.
Danny Jones -
22nd May 2023 
