Manchester United must repeat Amad transfer decision this summer with pre-season star

Though it will be new signings that excite Manchester United fans most this summer, the upcoming transfer window is as equally as important in relation to outgoings at Old Trafford.

After several years of stockpiling below-par players and watching some areas of the squad become bloated, Erik ten Hag is planning to be ruthless when it comes to a clearout. United only obtained fees for two first-team players last summer when there were five permanent additions.

It is a track record that United need to start altering this summer, both for the sake of the club's finances and the overall balance of the squad. But when it has come to the art of sending youngsters out on loan, that is something the Reds have had success with over the last few seasons.

After the success of James Garner's loan spell at Nottingham Forest during the 2021/22 campaign, United turned to the Championship again last summer, sending the likes of Ethan Laird, Alvaro Fernandez, Hannibal Mejbri and Amad to second-tier clubs. The latter enjoyed the most fruitful campaign of the aforementioned quartet, playing a starring role in Sunderland achieving an unexpected top-six finish.

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After a failed short-term loan stint north of the border with Rangers in the second half of the 2021/22 campaign, Amad made the most of his time on Wearside, dazzling Sunderland fans week after week. He made a total of 42 appearances for the Black Cats, scoring 14 goals and grabbing four assists.

It was a loan spell that could prove to be the making of him, and he'll no doubt now be knocking on Ten Hag's door in the hope of sealing a first-team spot at Old Trafford ahead of next season. Like so many others,