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MANCHESTER UNITED have just weeks to tie Amad Diallo down to a new deal or risk losing the star for free next summer.
Amad, 22, ran the show with a starring performance from right wing-back for the Red Devils as they beat Everton 4-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday.
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He has played in all three games under new boss Ruben Amorim, including starts against Everton and Ipswich while coming off the bench against Bodo/Glimt midweek.
After years on the periphery at United including loan deals, the Ivorian has finally marked himself as a firm favourite in the squad after scoring three goals and adding five assists this season.
And following his electric start under Amorim, the Portuguese boss reportedly wants to make giving him a new contract a priority.
Amad’s contract expires next summer, meaning that from January he will have the option to speak to clubs overseas about signing a pre-contract deal.
United – who originally signed Amad from Atalanta in 2021 – do have the option to trigger a one-year extension on his contract to stave off that threat but are yet to trigger it.
SunSport previously reported how United chiefs did not want to trigger the one-year option as they wanted to offer him a new five-year deal.
According to The Telegraph, Amad’s new deal is now “firmly” on the agenda in the next few weeks.
Amorim, 39, has spoken highly of Amad in his opening games, and praised new Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy for his work with him during his interim spell in charge of Man Utd.
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Speaking after the Everton clash, Amorim said of Amad: “He was really good again.
“He’s in a great moment, but that moment starts with the group. So, I just take advantage of Ruud’s [van Nistelrooy] work with Amad.
“Amad was really good defensively and really good attacking and he has to continue to play like that.
“You could feel at the end of the game that he was really, really tired, so we also have to manage that as he increases the physical ability.”
Man Utd travel to Arsenal on Wednesday for their next game.
Amorim is yet to taste a league defeat this season following his 100 per cent record with former club Sporting Lisbon, and will doubtless be hoping that can continue.
But recent history is stacked against United, having beaten the Gunners just once in the last five meetings.
Meanwhile, the last win at the Emirates came in the FA Cup in 2019, though this run stretches back to 2017 in the Premier League.
United will also find out who they will face in the FA Cup third round tonight.
The draw gets underway at 7pm, and you will be able to follow it will SunSport’s Live Blog.
Man Utd ratings vs Everton as Zirkzee answers his critics in style... but one midfielder struggles
RUBEN AMORIM celebrated his first Premier League game at Old Trafford with a stunning 4-0 victory over Everton.
Marcus Rashford and Joshua Zirkzee shook off questions over their recent form with two each at a thrilled Old Trafford – as the Red Devils won a Prem game by four goals or more since the opening day of the 2021-22 season.
Here’s how SunSport’s Ken Lawrence rated the Red Devils…
ANDRE ONANA – 6
Called into action early and showed growing his growing composure as No 1.
NOUSSAIR MAZROUI – 6
Has rapidly become one of the United faithful’s favourites doing himself no harm again.
MATTHIJS DE LIGT – 6
Stretched at first by bustling Beto but beginning to look like he’s settling down in a back three.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ – 6
Once again looking like the master and commander of the United rearguard.
AMAD DIALLO – 8
Went from wasteful to the plundering terror of centre backs Branthwaite and Tarkowski.
KOBBIE MAINOO – 6
Quiet, calm, controlled, no panic, no loss of possession, no problem for the midfielder.
CASEMIRO – 5
Looked like his lack of pace might be a problem again in central midfield but ground it out.
DIOGO DALOT – 6
Enjoying life in his new left-side forward role and didn’t really put a foot wrong.
JOSHUA ZIRKZEE – 8
Transformed himself from headless chicken to tripling his whole United tally with two clinical strikes.
MARCUS RASHFORD – 9
Ruben Amorim has gone out of his way to big up the front man and he’s responding in style.
BRUNO FERNANDES – 6
Wasteful for a while but got his head down to have a real influence by the end.
SUBS
LUKE SHAW (Mazraoui 56) – 5
Comfortably easing himself back.
HARRY MAGUIRE (de Ligt 56) – 5
Looked happy to be out there.
ALEJANDRO GARNACHO (Fernandes 66) – 5
Got bustling off the bench.
MANUEL UGARTE (Casemiro 66) – 5
Will be wanting more minutes than this.
MASON MOUNT (Mainoo 80) – 5
Sharp and up for it.
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