Amad Diallo 'set to stay at Manchester United this month'

The 21-year-old was not available for selection in the first half of the 2023-24 campaign due to a serious knee injury which he suffered during his side's pre-season preparations.

Amad made his return off the bench against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on December 30, playing the final 36 minutes of what proved to be a 2-1 loss for the Red Devils.

The Ivory Coast international has missed his side's last two games against Wigan Athletic and Tottenham Hotspur, though, due to an illness.

There has been a host of speculation surrounding his future since his return, with Southampton and Middlesbrough thought to be among the Championship clubs keen on signing him on loan.

Amad was in impressive form on loan at Sunderland in the second tier last season, scoring 14 goals and registering four assists in 42 appearances in all competitions.

The Black Cats have also been linked with him alongside Championship leaders Leicester City, but according to the Daily Mail, Man United are keen to keep him for the rest of the season.

The report claims that Middlesbrough are the latest club to have submitted a loan request, but Amad has been impressing Red Devils head coach Erik ten Hag in training, and he is required as cover for the likes of Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony.

Amad recently hinted that he would be staying with Man United this month amid the speculation surrounding his future.

The Ivorian arrived at Man United from Atalanta BC in the early stages of 2021, and he made eight appearances for the Red Devils in the second half of the 2020-21 campaign.

Amad has only featured twice for the 20-time English champions since, spending the second half of the 2021-22 campaign on loan at Rangers and the whole of last season with Sunderland.

The attacker is expected to have recovered from his illness in time to represent Man United in their next match, which is an FA Cup fourth-round clash with Newport County on January 28.

Facundo Pellistri is believed to be closing in on a loan switch to Granada, meanwhile, and it is highly unlikely that both the Uruguay international and Amad would be allowed to leave this month, as head coach Ten Hag is already short of options in the final third of the field.