The Man Utd transfer twist that could spell bad news for Sunderland in January

No Manchester United forward has scored a Premier League goal at Old Trafford since May 28th, almost seven months ago. The player responsible for that strike has since been wholly ostracised from both Erik ten Hag's plans and the first team dressing room, and now dedicates more of his time to virtual football than he does to its professional, real life counterpart. His name, of course, is Jadon Sancho.

This footnote to the Red Devils' perpetual despair may feel relatively meagre, but it does, at the very least, suggest to us a couple of things. For one, Sancho's time as a Manchester United player is surely set to come crashing to its inevitable conclusion sooner rather than later, and, for another, Ten Hag's frontline is in desperate need of revitalisation. Thankfully, the Dutchman may already have a talent at his disposal capable of offering some kind of resolution to both of those issues.

So far this term, the Old Trafford faithful are yet to see anything of Amad Diallo. The Ivorian attacker impressed during preseason, but sustained a serious knee injury in July, and has spent the period since undergoing an intense process of rehabilitation. At long last, however, United supporters were handed a positive update on the 21-year-old last week after it was revealed that he had finally returned to first team training. His comeback could hardly be more timely.

According to Football Insider, there is a growing feeling around the club that Diallo will be given an opportunity to prove himself to Ten Hag in the coming weeks, and if he makes good on his chance, then it could negate the need for United to sign a suitable Sancho replacement in the January transfer window. But while that may be excellent news for United and their shoddy attack, it might not be as well-received on Wearside.

Diallo, of course, spent last season on loan with Sunderland in the Championship, and was, by most metrics, a sensation. His return of 14 goals and four assists in 43 matches was impressive enough, but also only partially illustrates the impact of a talent who, at times, single-handedly dragged the Black Cats up the table and towards an eventual play-off place.

Ever since he left the Stadium of Light, there have been lingering whispers about the prospect of a second temporary stint in the North East; obviously, his long-term injury put pay to any such agreement during the summer transfer window, and following these latest developments, Sunderland's chances of re-signing him in the new year appear slimmer than ever. Only last week, Tony Mowbray - a manager who, by all accounts, Diallo was infatuated with - left the club, and now it looks as if the young forward will be thrust squarely into the limelight at Old Trafford.

Football Insider go on to state that if Diallo fails to make an impression on Ten Hag then the prospect of a January loan could be reignited, but that will offer little consolation to Sunderland fans, who will wholeheartedly believe that once their former darling is given a chance to shine for United, he will do so to a typically undeniable extent. The consensus is that the starlet will explode, and it is only a matter of time before that happens.

For Diallo and for United, therefore, his return from injury should come to be regarded as a fantastic, cost-effective thing. For Sunderland - and indeed any other clubs snooping around in the hope of securing a loan deal in January - however, perhaps not so much.