AMAD DIALLO will become one of Manchester United’s most expensive teenagers after a deal was agreed to sign the starlet.
Atalanta have accepted an offer for the winger, 18, to join the Red Devils for an initial £18million.
However the deal could reach a total of £37m if an array of add-on clauses are met.
Personal terms and a work permit are still to be completed before the youngster moves in January, with Atalanta retaining a 15 per cent sell-on fee.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had been desperate to sign a wide attacker throughout the window, targeting Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
In the end, he settled on Uruguayan talent Facundo Pellistri and free agent striker Edinson Cavani alongside Diallo.
Reports suggest Pellistri, also 18, will be thrown in at the deep end when he gets settled in Manchester with a first-team spot a possibility amid United’s early-season struggles.
And it was in similar circumstances which the club signed its most expensive teenager to date.
Robin van Persie’s exit in the summer of 2015, combined with the underwhelming arrival of Memphis Depay, forced Louis van Gaal into the market for a striker.
On deadline day, a deal worth £57.6m was agreed with Monaco for 19-year-old forward Anthony Martial.
Anthony Martial remains United’s most expensive teenagerCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Luke Shaw became the world’s most expensive teenager when moving in 2014Credit: Getty – Contributor
That fee was never reached, with only £36m handed over initially and three add-ons agreed.
Only one of those clauses was met as Martial reached 25 goals in his first four years at Old Trafford, while he failed to reach 25 France caps or win the Ballon d’Or by 2019.
Diallo will land at slightly below that fee even if he fulfills all of his bonus clauses, which would make him United’s second highest teen purchase.
Luke Shaw was the most expensive teenager in the world when brought in from Southampton for £30m, weeks before his 19th birthday.
After two impressive seasons in the Premier League at St Mary’s, the left-back has made just 142 appearances as he begins his seventh campaign in Manchester.
Injury problems and inconsistent form have stunted the England international’s progression under a number of managers, with Solskjaer signing Alex Telles on deadline day to replace him.
Next on the list is Wayne Rooney who signed for £25.6m from Everton in 2004.
On reflection, the Red Devils probably got their money’s worth from the striker, who left aged 31 with five Premier League titles, a Champions League and 253 goals in 559 appearances.
Anderson also collected a hefty amount of silverware at Old Trafford in his eight years at the club.
A relative unknown when signed for £20m in 2007, the Brazilian will become United’s fifth-most expensive teenager if Diallo triggers any of his add-ons.
But the midfielder was rarely a first-team regular and struggled to find form after leaving England, announcing his retirement last year at the age of 31.
Wayne Rooney is arguably the only member of this list to live up to his price tag – so farCredit: Getty – Contributor
Anderson was a fringe player during a successful period for the Red DevilsCredit: Action Images – Reuters
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
