Manchester United attacker Amad Diallo is close to joining Birmingham City on loan, with Crystal Palace and Wolves both chasing the teenager in the summer.
According to the Mirror, the Ivory Coast international has been granted permission to leave Old Trafford this month for first-team experience in the second half of this season, with Diallo yet to play under interim manager Ralf Rangnick.
The winger was wanted by some big-name clubs in the summer, with the Athletic reporting that both Palace and Wolves, as well as Burnley, were keen on signing Diallo on loan for the season.
However, a move never materialised as an injury late in the window meant that the former Atalanta youngster was not fit enough to leave United. And since then, the attacker has hardly featured for the Red Devils.
Indeed, the 19-year-old winger is a player with huge potential, with former teammate Papu Gomez comparing Diallo to Lionel Messi in training. The Argentine said: “Traore, he looks like Messi. There are defenders in the first team that sometimes cannot stop him.”
With Premier League clubs chasing him in the summer, it seems like an odd decision that Diallo will now join Birmingham for the remainder of the season, with the second-tier side sitting 18th in the Championship.
Palace and Wolves could move for Diallo again after Birmingham loan
It seems like a stunning fall from grace for Diallo from being linked with top Premier League clubs to a side that linger just above the Championship relegation zone in Birmingham. However, it could be a move that is the making for the youngster.
After all, United have invested a lot of money in the teenager. And five months competing in the cellars of the Championship could what’s needed for Diallo to make the next step in his development.
And for the likes of Palace and Wolves, it could make the winger a more lucrative target next summer.
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