Amad Diallo addresses Man Utd exit rumours as Sunderland vow made

Amad Diallo has quashed reports linking him with Middlesbrough and suggested he would only drop back down to the Championship to re-join Sunderland.

Amad's future has been subject to speculation in recent weeks, following his return to fitness from a long-term knee injury. The 21-year-old made his first appearance for Manchester United off the bench against Nottingham Forest last month but talk has been of another temporary move away and more regular football elsewhere. Having excelled on loan at Sunderland last season with 14 goals in 39 appearances, Amad has attracted interest from a number of promotion-chasing Championship clubs. Recent reports have suggested that Michael Carrick could use his connections at United to take the Ivorian on loan at Middlesbrough.

But after the rumours were put to Amad on social media, via a Sunderland fan page, he was quick to pour cold water on them and insisted any return to the second-tier will be with the Black Cats.

Responding to @sunderlandafc11, Amad said: "Hi mate it's AMAD. The rumours bind (sic) on a loan to Boro it's fake. If I had to come back on loan to the Championship, it would be Sunderland and not anywhere else."

Amad then posted a picture of himself in a Sunderland shirt from last season on his Instagram. The winger has been active on social media throughout the January window and called out a claim from former player Carlton Palmer that he could reunite with Tony Mowbray at Birmingham City.

It is not yet clear what United's plans are for Amad this month but he was afforded the chance to prove his first-team credentials in pre-season, only to be cruelly struck down by that knee injury. Jadon Sancho's loan move to Borussia Dortmund has opened up a space as competition for Antony and it is between the former Atalanta man and Facundo Pellistri.

In that 2-1 defeat at Forest, Erik ten Hag decided to bring Amad off the bench ahead of Pellistri and speculation surrounding the latter suggests a move could happen this month. PSV Eindhoven and LA Galaxy have been linked but the Uruguayan now looks likely to join Granada.