Amad Diallo was heavily linked with a move to Middlesbrough last January, and he could’ve made all the difference to Boro’s season.
Boro missed out on Diallo, a potential match-winner, which could have helped secure a promotion spot last season.
Sunderland favourite Diallo confirmed he would stay at United, causing heartbreak for Boro fans dreaming of his creative talents.
Diallo’s impact at Sunderland, and his potential for Boro, highlights the importance of addressing weak spots in the squad through strong signings.
Middlesbrough came close to securing a Championship play-off spot last season but they would ultimately fall short of achieving their top-six aspirations.
Michael Carrick’s first full season as Middlesbrough boss was one of significant transition as Boro had stacked up on loan players the previous year, in an attempt to end their Premier League exile.
Ryan Giles, Rodrigo Muniz, Cameron Archer, Aaron Ramsey, and Zack Steffen were among those faces that returned to their parent clubs at the end of the 2022/23 campaign, one that left Carrick’s squad requiring a sizeable overhaul last summer.
But despite a poor start to the season, Boro eventually found their rhythm as the season progressed, and as Carrick’s side began their ascension up the table, the January transfer window gave them the opportunity to add the final pieces to a squad that could get the club over the line.
One such player that was reportedly on Boro’s radar was Manchester United and former Sunderland winger Amad Diallo.
Boro were in for Amad
Reporting via his Patreon, journalist Alan Nixon revealed that Middlesbrough were leading the race to sign the United wideman last January, as Carrick looked to add the former Sunderland sensation to his ranks.
Nixon reported that Boro had offered United the best financial package, with the club being willing to contribute the most amount of money to the Ivorian’s wages in what would’ve been a loan deal.
The report stated that the Teessiders were hopeful of securing an agreement with the Red Devils imminently, as their offer was considerably better than those from other interested clubs.
Ultimately, a deal would not materialise for the highly talented winger, with Diallo opting to remain at Old Trafford.
In what would become an iconic moment for Sunderland fans, Diallo took to his Instagram account to rubbish rumours of a potential move to Teesside, as he posted a picture of him wearing a Sunderland shirt with a kissing emoji.
