Manchester United open to including Amad in squad next season

Erik ten Hag is open to including Amad in the Manchester United squad next season as he approaches the end of his loan with Sunderland.

The 20-year-old winger scored his 12th Championship goal of the season in the 2-1 win against Birmingham on Saturday as Sunderland push for the play-offs.

Ten Hag and United staff are pleased with the Ivory Coast international's development, having suggested he required a "run of 10 starts" to showcase his qualities.

Also read: Ten Hag likens Antony to Robben

United regard the Championship as an essential environment for young players with the technical ability to return to their first-team squad.

Amad is likely to be named in United's pre-season tour squad of the United States. United are planning to play two friendlies in Europe before they fly to the Atlantic Coast on July 19.

United have provisionally planned to loan or sell fellow wingers Anthony Elanga and secure a Premier League loan for Facundo Pellistri next season, while the club are yet to decide whether to reintegrate Mason Greenwood back into their environment.

Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho are viewed by Ten Hag as his prime options on the left wing amid his impatience with Jadon Sancho, which leaves a potential opening for a right winger to compete with Antony.

United had the option to recall Amad in the January transfer window while Sancho worked on his fitness over a two-and-a-half-month period but Ten Hag did not want to hamper his progress at Sunderland.

"We consider everything but I have a little bit of reservation about [recalling Amad] because I don’t want to stop the process," Ten Hag said on New Year's Eve. "He has made really good progress there so I’m happy with that.

"But young players need