TONY MOWBRAY’S Birmingham and Watford are lining up a loan move for Manchester United winger Amad Diallo.
Mowbray worked with Diallo at Sunderland during a loan spell last season and will go in hard for him in the summer when Blues will have cash to spend.
Diallo has shown he can star in the Championship and Mowbray rates him highly, so that gives Birmingham a chance — but there will be rivals.
Watford tried for Diallo last month and are planning a serious summer move — possibly even with an offer to buy him at Udinese, who are owned like the Hornets by the Pozzo family, and send him back to England.
Diallo is yet to make the big breakthrough at Old Trafford and was fancied by many in the window.
Middlesbrough made a big play but the 21-year-old was not keen to join them.
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And with United asking for most of his wages to be paid, that scared off admirers.
However, next time round Birmingham and Valerien Ismael’s Watford plan to do business with United who will want the bulk of his salary gone, which makes it an expensive deal in any form.
Amad’s Boro snub was somewhat of a shock, given the club’s United connections.
Michael Carrick, who enjoyed a 12-year playing career with the Red Devils, is the current head coach.
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Carrick also coached Amad as caretaker boss – naming him the squad for two of his three Premier League matches in charge.
Speaking after the wideman scored against Boro last season, the ex-West Ham star praised the Ivorian.
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He said: “I know Amad very well from United.
“He’s a terrific footballer and seems to have jumped up a level again from the start of the season. His performances have improved and he is a threat.
“He’s a talented player, really smooth on the ball and has a lovely feel for how he takes the ball.
“He’s sharp, has injection and he sees space very well. Obviously I know him and have watched him very closely. He’s not easy to stop because he’s one of the better players.”
A reunion with another United old boy Wayne Rooney won’t be happening after he was sacked by Birmingham.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
