Leeds United have been linked with a loan move for Manchester United's £35m forward Amad - a man who lit up the Championship last season during his time at Sunderland. The Whites are apparently eyeing the 20-year-old as a potential replacement if Wilfried Gnonto and/or Jack Harrison head for the Elland Road exit.
After suffering relegation on the final day of the Premier League season, Leeds are looking to bounce straight back to the top flight and feel that Amad can help their cause. He finished as Sunderland's 14-goal top scorer last term as the Black Cats finished sixth on their return to the Championship after winning promotion from League One, before losing in the play-off semi-finals to eventual winners Luton Town.
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag is expected to take Amad on the club's pre-season trip to the USA to see him first-hand and decide whether he is ready to play a part in the Red Devils' Premier League campaign. But if he decides that Amad still needs more experience, it could mean another loan move is in store for a player who joined Manchester United in January 2021 from Italian side Atalanta in a deal worth up to £35m.
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So what could Leeds expect from Amad if he arrives at Elland Road? ChronicleLive's Sunderland AFC writer James Hunter gives us the lowdown.
What sort of player is Amad?
A 'magician', a 'wonderful talent' and 'brilliant'. Those are just three of the labels attached to Amad by Sunderland boss Tony Mowbray, who seemed to be heaping praise on the youngster every time he faced the media last season.
Amad generally played either as a right-sided forward or in the number ten role for Sunderland - he also occasionally operated up front, although that was driven by necessity when they were down to the bare bones through injury - and his skills and trickery make him a joy to watch. Small in size and with a low centre of gravity, he moves quickly with the ball and his acceleration leaves defenders trailing in his wake.
He also has an eye for goal, scoring 13 times in the league last term and adding another in the play-offs.
What could Leeds fans expect?
Plenty of excitement and spectacular goals! Amad is the kind of player that gets fans out of their seats.
He's dynamic and technical, but is not afraid of hard work when it comes to pressing high up the pitch and tackling back when necessary.
How would you assess his time at Sunderland?
Amad's quality was not in doubt but he arrived on Wearside at the end of August perhaps short of confidence having had a six-month loan spell in Scotland with Glasgow Rangers the previous season in which he did not get the gametime he would have wanted. Mowbray eased him into the first-team gradually at first, and it was October when Amad really began to hit his stride, scoring a burst of five goals in seven games.
He was a huge hit with the fans, and went on to be named the club's Young Player of the Year in a season where there was real competition for that accolade. He was also named Championship Player of the Month for December, after scoring three goals in five games, and picked up the PFA Championship Fans' Player of the Month at the same time.
Overall, he made a huge contribution and was one of the key figures in Sunderland's play-off campaign.
What is Sunderland's current transfer stance?
Sunderland would dearly love to bring him back to Wearside but at the end of last season had seemingly accepted that Amad would not return, with the possibility that Manchester United may use him in their Premier League squad next season. Alternatively, the suggestion was that if Amad was loaned out again it would be either to a Premier League club or to a club in the top flight in possibly Spain, Italy, or Portugal.
But Amad himself has never ruled out a return to Sunderland and last week a report emerged saying Wearside was his 'preference' if he did go out on loan again next season. Sunderland fans live in hope!
Should the move materialise, do you think he would be a success at Leeds?
I can't see why not, for all the same reasons he was a success at Sunderland. The only additional problem he would face at Elland Road is the rivalry between Manchester United and Leeds.
If he went through a rough patch, would Leeds fans get behind him or single him out for criticism?
