For every club, there is always a player out there who fans think ‘What might have been’ – and one was on show yesterday for Everton supporters.
Everton’s issues in the final third this season have been well-documented.
It’s just 14 goals scored in 15 Premier League games so far, with four of those coming in one game against a very porous Wolves side.
It’s a shame, because Everton can be fantastic defensively, and the foundations are there to kick on and win more games. But the likes of Beto and Dominic Calvert-Lewin have struggled for Everton, and Armando Broja has been out injured for most of the season so far
The squad is lacking firepower, and also dynamism, especially in the wide areas.
Everton fans who tuned into Sunday’s Manchester Derby will no doubt have been impressed by Amad Diallo, who was a player Everton might have signed in 2023.
- READ MORE: Ruben Amorim may have just given Everton green light to sign £190k-a-week Man United star
Everton were interested in Man United gem Amad Diallo in 2023
In the summer of 2023, it was reported by the Northern Echo that Everton were among a host of clubs interested in snapping up Diallo.
Diallo had just finished a successful loan spell with Sunderland, for whom he scored 14 goals and made four assists.
Sunderland were understandably keen to re-sign him, but the report stated that West Ham United and Everton were both keen to sign him on loan for the 2023/24 season.
| Amad Diallo since Ruben Amorim became Man United manager |
| Appearances – 7 (out of a possible 7) |
| Minutes played – 615 |
| Goals – 1 |
| Assists – 4 |
In the end though, the Toffees didn’t make an approach to Manchester United over the Ivory Coast international, and he stayed put.
He was used sparingly by Erik ten Hag, but under Ruben Amorim he looks to be very much in favour, and a serious talent that Everton missed out on.
Former Everton target Amad Diallo branded ‘unstoppable’ in Manchester Derby
Manchester United ran out 2-1 winners against Manchester City on Sunday to pile more misery on Pep Guardiola.
City looked to be heading for a win after taking the lead through Josko Gvardiol. But it was Amad who stepped up for United in the closing stages, first winning a penalty that Bruno Fernandes scored, and then grabbing a last-gasp winner in terrific fashion.
£29,000-a-week gem Diallo was a real livewire all game for United, who were not great at the Etihad Stadium. He was easily the Red Devils’ best player, with Fernandes raving about him.
| Amad Diallo vs Man City |
| Minutes played – 90 |
| Goals – 1 |
| Assists – 1 |
| Touches – 57 |
| Accurate passes – 31/34 (91%) |
| Duels won – 7/11 (64%) |
| Dribbles completed – 5/8 (63%) |
The Portuguese said (as quoted by MEN): “He showed it again today. He is always alive and this is why he gets the penalty, why he gets the goal. He has been brilliant. We need him at this level because when he is like this he is unstoppable.”
Who knows how close Everton came to actually signing Diallo that summer. In the end, the club signed Arnaut Danjuma on loan.
It was ultimately an underwhelming spell for Danjuma, who was linked with a January exit from Everton before leaving in the summer at the end of his loan.
Given his recent rise, Diallo is surely a player most Everton fans wish the club would have signed instead.
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