Amad Diallo has returned to Manchester United training after representing the Ivory Coast at the Olympics this summer and has been given a new squad number, 16 – the number that became known at Old Trafford by Roy Keane and Michael Carrick.
But the teenage player, who completed a transfer worth up to £ 37m from Atalanta in January, can still leave on loan throughout the season to help his development with a promise of more consistent first-team chances.
The competition for places will be fierce if he stays at Old Trafford, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood, Daniel James and maybe even Anthony Martial vying for wide attacking places.
Other youngsters such as Axel Tuanzebe (Aston Villa), Facundo Pellistri (Alaves) and Tahith Chong (Birmingham) have already taken out loans to get the usual opportunities they need to continue developing and Amad can join them before the end of the transfer window. .
Here is a look at six clubs that would suit Amad well …
Reading developed Michael Olise before selling him to Crystal Palace / Richard Heathcote / Getty Images
Reading sold Michael Olise to Crystal Palace during the summer and have not directly replaced the teenagers, which means the royals may have a void that Amad can fill.
The championship, despite its reputation as a physical league, is a proven breeding ground for technical attacking players. United have already sent Tahith Chong to Birmingham, while Eberechi Eze developed at QPR and Ismaila Sarr stayed at Watford last season, helping the Hornets immediately advance to the Premier League.
Sheffield United hope for a short stay in Championship / George Wood / Getty Images
Reading have not been linked with Amad as it looks, but Sheffield United have. The Blades were relegated from the Premier League last season and are keen to make their championship relationship short. Adding quality players like Amad would be a way for them to achieve just that.
Sheffield United have already proven they can play a role in developing youngsters on loan from their namesakes in Manchester after training Dean Henderson for two years.
Amad can connect with international teammate Wilfried Zaha / Chloe Knott – Danehouse / Getty Images
Crystal Palace may have already signed on to the aforementioned Olise from Reading, but the Eagles have long had a reputation for developing young wingers, dating back to a teenager Wilfried Zaha over a decade ago.
Versatile striker Eberechi Eze has already enjoyed Selhurst Park, while the Eagles have generally signed young players this summer – Olise is 19, midfielder Marc Guehi is 21 and midfielder Conor Gallagher is also 21. The latter is on loan from Chelsea.
Fabrizio Romano reported on Palace’s rumored interest in Amad, but what he did not mention is that Palace is already on the verge of borrowing and must either make Jean-Philippe Mateta’s deal a permanent one a few months early or cut it short.
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers is known for his work with young players / Michael Regan / Getty Images
Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers has a good record of developing young talent and, as long as United do not see the Foxes as a direct competition, it could be a good temporary home for Amad.
Harvey Barnes is an example of the club’s record of home-grown talent, while 22-year-old striker Patson Daka has been signed during the summer. Kelechi Iheanacho, now 24, has also benefited from being a Leicester player and is finally making use of his potential.
The opportunity may be there for Amad as Marc Albrighton gets older and Ayoze Perez could not nail a consistent spot last season.
Jesse Lingard has not been replaced by West Ham / Pool / Getty Images
West Ham enabled Jesse Lingard to revive his career in the second half of last season, a spell that makes him one of the best loan deals in Premier League history.
The Hammers have Europa League football to contend with this season and will need additional depth and quality to ensure it does not deteriorate too much from their domestic results. But so far they have been quiet in the transfer market and Amad can be a strong short-term addition.
Of the attacking players currently available to David Moyes, Michail Antonio, Andriy Yarmolenko and Manuel Lanzini all had uneven fitness records last season.
Borussia Dortmund is a breeding ground for young talents to thrive / INA FASSBENDER / Getty Images
Borussia Dortmund are always keen on young talent, with most of their attacking players aged 22 or younger, all the way down to 16-year-old Youssoufa Moukoko.
Amad can fit in and get opportunities because the Bundesliga has not directly replaced Jadon Sancho, with new signing Donyell Malen another type of player.
Going to Dortmund would also mean playing at a higher level than if he stayed in the Premier League or lost the championship because he would be in the Champions League.
The relationship between United and Dortmund extends beyond just this summer’s Sacnho agreement, with Adnan Januzaj going to Westfalenstadion on loan in 2015 and Shinji Kagawa going from Dortmund to Manchester and back again in 2012 and 2014.
For more from Jamie Spencer, follow him on Twitter and Facebook!
