Southampton push to sign Man United star Amad Diallo in January

Southampton are pushing to land Man United winger Amad Diallo on loan ahead of the January transfer window, sources have told Football Insider.

The Saints, who are in the race for promotion back to the Premier League this term, are long-term admirers of the 21-year-old.

Football Insider revealed in July that Southampton made contact with Man United about taking Diallo on loan for the 2023-24 campaign.

However, the Ivory Coast international suffered a serious knee injury in pre-season and is only just returning to first-team action.

It is believed a deal could now be done in January with Diallo ready to make his mark in the 2023-24 campaign.

The winger joined Man United in 2021 for a reported fee of £37million but has managed just nine appearances for the Red Devils, scoring once.

Diallo notched 14 goals and four assists in 43 appearances across all competitions on loan at Sunderland last season following an unsuccessful spell at Rangers in the previous campaign.

He helped Sunderland reach the semi-finals of the playoffs, where Luton beat them across two legs.

Football Insider revealed on 12 December that both Leicester City and Sunderland are also ready to take the Man United winger on loan for the second half of the 2023-24 campaign.

But it is believed that Russell Martin’s Southampton and his recruitment staff are pushing the hardest to land Diallo at this time.

The 21-year-old was named in the Ivory Coast’s preliminary squad for the African Cup of Nations next month – but it is unclear at this stage whether he will be part of the final side.

Southampton sit fourth in the Championship and are ten points adrift of an automatic promotion place following their relegation from the Premier League last term.

In other news, Leeds United, Southampton and Wolves make moves to sign teen goal machine.