Scout Reports

What impact can Amad Diallo have as an FPL asset at Manchester United?

Teenage sensation Amad Diallo is finally joining up with Manchester United after agreeing a £40million move in the summer.

After spending all season hoping Borussia Dortmund would lower their asking price for Jadon Sancho, Diallo was one of four players brought in by the Red Devils towards the end of the transfer window.

But anyone thinking of Diallo as a panic buy or a runner’s up prize to the England international could be in for a rude awakening.

The 18-year-old winger has been described by some as a “generational talent” and one of the best players in the world at his age.

He made such an impression at Atlanta in the first half of the season that boss Gian Piero Gasperini was eager to keep him for longer, only for Man United to insist on the move.

This would lead you to believe Diallo will feature straight away in the Man United first-team, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is so far keeping his cards close to his chest.

How the January transfer window and deadline day will affect FPL

“I’ve seen there’s been lots of expectations on Amad and rightly so, an exciting player with fantastic attributes we look forward to developing. It’s important we give him that time to settle in, if it’s in the under-23s or if he looks ready to go into the first team, I don’t know yet.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Prodigy

Not much data exists for us to be able to read much into Diallo’s game, having played just under an hour of senior team football in two appearances.

But already in this time, the youngster got himself onto the scoresheet in Atalanta’s 7-1 demolition of Udinese, cutting in from the right to score with his left foot.

Footage shared widely on social media shows Diallo loves to get the ball on the right hand side before dribbling inside and taking on the full-back.

As for his playing style, former teammates at Atalanta have gone as far as to describe him in the same breath as Lionel Messi.

“He plays like Messi. There are defenders in the first team that sometimes cannot stop him. To stop him in training we have to kick him.”

Papu Gomez

In a piece on The Athletic, Wyscout determine Diallo’s key attributes as excellent close control, a low centre of gravity and lightning quick acceleration.

And far from a one-trick-pony, special mention is given to his ability to go on the outside of the full-back and cross the ball well with his right foot.

According to Wyscout figures, Diallo has attempted 9.01 dribbles per 90 minutes, which is a high amount even for a winger.

The wonderkid is also not fouled very often, showing a hidden strength despite his diminutive appearance and a preference for riding tackles.

All of the above persuaded Solskjaer to part with a large amount for a player relatively untested at senior level, watching him personally in the UEFA Youth League where he terrorised Manchester City.

“We have followed Amad for a number of years and having watched him myself, I believe he is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game. Manchester United has a proud history of developing young players and everything is in place to enable Amad to reach his potential here. It will take him time to adapt but his speed, vision and fantastic dribbling ability will stand him in good stead to make the transition. He is a player with all of the raw attributes that are needed to be an important player for Manchester United in the years to come.”

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Prospects

Judging by Ole’s words above, it sounds like Diallo is going to be eased in this season, rather than jumping straight in to the first team set-up.

It may be worth noting another promising winger, Facundo Pellistri (£5.2m), signed in the summer, has yet to feature in the Premier League and has mainly been playing at an Under-23 level.

However, should Diallo impress in training and at the lower levels, the Red Devils’ struggles on the right hand side of their attack may force Solskjaer’s hand in introducing Diallo early.

Mason Greenwood (£7.1m) has struggled to replicate the form he showed last season on the right, and his game suggests he is more suited to a role through the middle.

Greenwood below-par and

Marcus Rashford (£9.6m), Dan James (£6.2m) and Juan Mata (£5.8m) have also been trialled with limited success down United’s right-hand side, with Ole even opting to ditch winger completely in some games and move to a midfield diamond.

But the diamond does not look like it will be a long-term solution, with Solskjaer stating on numerous occasions about how he wants his sides to play with pace and width.

And United hit a purple patch of form with Greenwood in the side last season, allowing him and Rashford to cut inside from wide and Anthony Martial (£8.8m) to play through the middle.

Diallo’s game looks like it suits this system perfectly and he could find himself gaining minutes sooner rather than later and in one of the league’s most potent attacks.

Value

Assuming Diallo comes in around the same value as Pellistri, this puts him in direct competition with a budget enablers such as Tomas Soucek (£5.2m) at West Ham and Raphinha (5.5m) of Leeds.

Without more to go on, it’s difficult to make a case to add Diallo to our teams until we get an idea of how Ole is going to incorporate him.

But should Diallo hit the ground running, he may ironically turn into last season’s Mason Greenwood, the man he is tipped to replace on the right-wing.

1,381 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Jimmy Boy
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Brighton's Bernardo starting is a nice surprise for all the non-free hitters who still have him third on their bench

    1. Jimmy Boy
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Well this'll be a great page-topper if City pummel Brighton defenders into negative points

  2. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    My Foden pick seems like an act of genius

    1. Pep bites Kun
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Game over - how much did he score? 😉

      1. Thomas Shelby from Birmingh…
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        More than Sterling uptill now....hope he doesn't stretch his leg during warm-up

  3. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    118% City starting defence EO, so I'd rather City concede and Cancelo get an attacking return here

    1. Warby84
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      I just want as many points as possible

    2. Karan14
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wow 2-3 weeks ago all of them were under 5% ownership

  4. Camino Aleatorio
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB = CENTER DAMN FORWARD

    It makes me so happy for my Kev

    Now lets score 4 goals baby!

  5. built_this_city
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Dias, Cancelo, KDB (C)

    LETS GO BABAY

  6. Moore FPL
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    3 from 3 in the 11. Good start!

  7. LE CHARO
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Shouldn't have chickened out and taken Cancelo out at the last minute for Dias. Hopefully this is the game where Dias finally scores from a set piece. KDB false 9 great news for captainers. Unfortunately I capped Bruno...

    1. built_this_city
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      need to stop listening to scaremongering - he was taken off at half time in the FA CUP

      1. F_Ivanovic
        • 8 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        This. I mean you only need half a brain to figure out Cancelo is one of City's most important players atm.. he can play left back, right back and midfield. They were 3-0 up in an FA cup game.. ofc Pep is going to take him off and rest him.

      2. LE CHARO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah, which is initially why I had him, but Pep's comments about how tired he was after he praised his exceptional fitness a few days before cast some doubt.

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Cancelo only has 1 assist and 0 goals so far this season, so not actually the new Robertson

      1. LE CHARO
        • 4 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Of course, but his underlying numbers suggest a big haul will come at some point, and I wouldn't want to be missing out in the GW where his EO is the highest it has been all season and all my ML rivals have him.

    3. djman102
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Also captained Bruno and only have KDB and Cancelo in this game. City fan as well, so let's go City! But not too much...save some of those goals for that run of stressful games ahead...my FPL team is doomed today, isn't it?

  8. DannyDrinkVodka
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Is Foden a good option for DGW19?

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Nah

  9. popey
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling captain as main differntial on FH is looking inspired right now

  10. Jindaljain
    • 9 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Sterling captain going 2 points coming for me amazing..

  11. Dele
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Hope Razza comes off the bench after a shocking first half for Mahrez.

  12. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo, Dias, KDB HERE WE GO BOYS

    1. Firminooooo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      +1

      1. LevonCD
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        +2 Let’s go baby

  13. Pep Roulette
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Need Sterling to come on against tired legs!

  14. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Wow both Sterling and Jesus on the sideline

  15. Albrightondknight
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Well at least I took the C off Sterling and put it on KDB

  16. tuturututu
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    I should have this team for DGW19, hitting the BB button.

    Meslier, Fabianski
    Robbo, Stones, Coufal, Justin, Alioski
    Salah, Bruno, Rashford, Maddison, Soucek
    Firmino, Bamford, Giroud

    What do you think ?

    1. LevonCD
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      No city attacker against two home games, imo bit risky bud, apart from that it’s gtg.

  17. Digital-Real
    • 7 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    so who got 0/3 in their City picks?

    1. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me

    2. Don Kloppeone
      • 6 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Surely not ......

    3. OverTinker
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      sterling, walker and Jesus owners? Deserve it if any

    4. Hybrid.power
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Wow...who do you have??

  18. Flair
    • 3 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Cancelo attacking return. Dias goal. They're due.

  19. CheesyZoot
    • 4 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones popping up with a cheeky headed goal wouldn't go amiss this evening...

  20. Don Kloppeone
    • 6 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    KDB (C), Gundo, Cancelo

    Let's GO!!!

    1. Von Lipwig
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      With you brother! Gundo!

    2. In a Rush
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Exactly the same let’s go!

    3. DannyDrinkVodka
      • 4 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      This is me as well

    4. Tsparkes10
      • 5 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Me but Dias over Cancelo. Hopefully 30 minimum

  21. OverTinker
    • 5 Years
    3 years, 2 months ago

    Stones, Cancelo, KDB (C) YES!!

    1. Konstaapeli
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same trio! Let's GO!

    2. Gudjohnsen
      • 7 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Same

  22. Party time
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Uh-oh! Sterling benched.

      Wonders shall never end

    • Weeb Kakashi
      • 8 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Raz off the bench could be good. And Captaincy option next week.

    • Jindaljain
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      My sterling captain 2 pts locked

    • JELLYFISH
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Could use some advice on what to do with this lot. Bought in Johnstone and Taylor some weeks back planning to BB, but Taylor injury coupled with postponed games (risk of postponed games) has done me.

      Mendy/Johnstone
      C taylor Zouma Robbo Kilman Stones
      Salah Bruno Son Soucek Biss
      Kane Bamford DCL

      Am thinking hits are inevitable, but do I hit to:

      A) boost my bench (i.e. Taylor > Dawson & DCL > Antonio for -4) and play BB
      B) drop BB and go for the DGW big hitters (i.e. Kane > Vardy & Son > KDB....although a further hit would be required to do this example so -8)

    • Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      It's going to be classic FPL if Mahrez gets a hattrick here, all assisted by Bilva

    • how now brown cow
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      How many pages will fly by when brighton score?

    • Heisenberg W. W.
      • 3 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Kdb (c) playing as a false 9 ✓
      Cancello and Stones in defence ✓
      Sterling benched 😀

      So far so good!

      1. LevonCD
        • 9 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        Naughty.

    • Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Mark knows...

      1. OverTinker
        • 5 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        what now?

      2. Sun Jihai
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        3 years, 2 months ago

        ...he's getting Bogle's 6 points off the bench

    • RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      3 years, 2 months ago

      Looks great having kdb as c playing false 9. but feel it’s going to be A standard blank dissapointment again...