'They just have to do it': Manchester United sent warning on new star player to avoid unwanted transfers

Manchester United must get Amad Diallo to sign a new contract.

That's the view of talkSPORT chief football correspondent and devoted Man United fan Alex Crook.

Diallo, a former Red Devils youth player, returned to Old Trafford in 2021 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, with the Norwegian shelling out £21m from his transfer war chest to sign the Ivorian from Atalanta.

Now, after loan spells with Rangers and Sunderland and a struggle for regular minutes, he has started three of Man United's last four Premier League games and has become a key player in Ruben Amorimfrom the side.

The new coach's only defeat – a 2-0 defeat against Arsenal Wednesday night – started with Diallo on the bench.

talkSPORT understands that United are hopeful to reach a new agreement with Diallo, whose current contract expires at the end of next season.

The Red Devils have the option of a 12-month extension but want to secure something longer-term, and the versatile youngster is sure to increase his value and attract interest from clubs across Europe.

Speaking of the 22-year-old in talkSPORT's inner demonsCrook was asked if fans are seeing the start of a great Man United career for him.

“I think so,” he said. “We started to witness it at the end of last season with that dramatic goal he scored against Liverpool in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. You could see what it meant to him.

“I interviewed him before the cup final and found him very humble, very sensible, very dedicated and professional.

“So I thought maybe this is a guy United can build the team around.

“We know there are talks underway about a new contract. “They just have to lock him up.”

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Diallo was used sparingly under former boss Erik ten Hag, who was sacked in October, with the Dutchman usually bringing him off the bench.

But under interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy and now new boss Amorim, he has shone, notching four assists in his four appearances.

He has five assists in total in all competitions, as well as two goals.

In the Premier League, he has more assists than Tottenham's Dejan Kulusevski, James Maddison and Heung-min Son, Liverpool's Luis Diaz and Manchester City's Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden.

“It makes it even more baffling when you see the kind of performances he has been producing, that Erik ten Hag refused to use him towards the end of his tenure,” Crook continued.

“He picked (Noussair) Mazraoui at no. 10 roles in place. He is obviously playing a different role with Ruben Amorim as one of those attacking full-backs.

“But he's such a good professional, such a good athlete, he can basically play anywhere.”