€50m market value 

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Everything is currently rosy at Manchester United with Michael Carrick transforming their fortunes this season. No Premier League club has collected more points than United since Carrick’s interim appointment and they effectively secured Champions League qualification with their win over Brentford. Returning to the most lucrative club competition in the world will significantly boost United’s finances with planning already underway for a pivotal transfer window.

The addition of at least two centre midfielders is unquestionably the priority with Casemiro departing but strengthening their attack must also be considered with Amad Diallo’s recent form a cause for concern. The 23-year-old is a supremely talented footballer and his development was one of the only positives from Rúben Amorim’s disastrous tenure, but his improvement has stagnated. Amad has benefitted from the positivity surrounding United amid their incredible recent run as his downturn has slipped under the radar. The Ivory Coast international does offer much more than goal contributions – as evidenced by his role in Benjamin Sesko’s goal against Brentford – but his attacking output simply isn’t good enough for a club with United’s ambitions of competing for major honours, once again.

The numbers behind Amad Diallo’s slump in form

It was no real surprise that Amad was hooked at half-time in United’s win over Brentford as he was underwhelming and spurned a glorious early chance after brilliant play by Kobbie Mainoo. The biggest criticism of Amad’s game is his final product, which is completely justified and supported by the numbers. As the graphic below illustrates, Amad has only provided five goal contributions this season – two goals and three assists – across 28 appearances in all competitions. The former Atalanta starlet has totalled 2,128 minutes but his average of 0.08 goals per 90 minutes and 0.13 assists per 90 makes for grim reading.

In fairness, Amad played 12 games as a wing-back in Amorim’s widely criticised 3-4-2-1 formation but four of his five goal contributions arrived in that role. Worryingly, Amad hasn’t provided a single goal or assist since Carrick took charge and that’s been exclusively in a more attacking role on the wing – he’s registered zero goal contributions in his last 13 appearances. Regardless of whether Carrick is installed on a permanent basis, United’s hierarchy want to persist with a back four next season and the winger’s attacking numbers need to improve considerably. Amad is a hugely popular member of United’s squad and will remain at Old Trafford next season and he often avoids criticism due to his infectious personality but his recent performances aren’t deserving of a starting role. And as you compare Amad’s numbers to the most productive Premier League players then it highlights his ineffectiveness as he ranks joint-98th for goal contributions.