The next Amad: Man Utd now making inquiries to secure “young Sadio Mane”
Supporters of Manchester United are likely hoping for a quick exit for the club’s AFCON players from the tournament, as Ruben Amorim’s team is visibly weakened without Bryan Mbeumo, Noussair Mazraoui, and Amad. Unfortunately, that trio possesses too much talent to be part of a tournament catastrophe, with Amad, in particular, already spearheading the attack for the Ivory Coast.
Indeed, the 23-year-old has scored once in each of his team’s first two matches, the second being a spectacular goal in the 1-1 draw against Mbeumo’s Cameroon last time around. That remarkable individual effort has underscored the winger’s development from teenage prodigy to a true world-class player, with United benefiting from their original £19m investment in a relatively unknown 18-year-old back in 2020.
If speculative reports are accurate, INEOS might now be aiming to replicate this success as they look ahead to 2026.
Man Utd among contenders to sign the next Amad Signed in October 2020, but arriving in Manchester a few months later, Amad has had to be patient at Old Trafford, navigating loan spells at Rangers and Sunderland while also attempting to carve out a role under Erik ten Hag.
Since Amorim took charge just over a year ago, however, the agile left-footer has been in fine form, accumulating 21 goals and assists in just 43 appearances under the Portuguese coach. With the former Atalanta talent being a consistent presence on the right side—whether as a number ten, traditional winger, or wing-back—United was reportedly on the lookout for a comparable player for the opposite side, albeit seemingly missing out on Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo.
Alternatives seem to be in consideration, as Caught Offside indicates that the Red Devils—along with Arsenal—are among the teams that have made ‘preliminary inquiries’ regarding Hoffenheim’s young talent, Bazoumana Toure. According to the report, the two Premier League clubs are poised to be ‘at the forefront’ in the race for the 19-year-old’s signature, although a move in the summer appears more likely than one during the current season.
The Bundesliga club is not looking to approve a sale next month, but they reportedly have set a price tag of around €45m (£39m) for the player.
Why Toure could be Man Utd’s next Amad Presently part of the Ivory Coast’s AFCON squad, the one-cap international may also find himself joining Amad at the club level if United decides to pursue their interest further, with Toure’s recent performances in Germany demonstrating why he would be a worthy gamble.
Comfortable playing on either side, although more frequently operating on the left, the teenager has been praised as “one of the most thrilling young wingers in European football” by journalist Bence Bocsak, who also compared him to a “young Sadio Mane.” Such acclaim is certainly warranted, given his influence in the Bundesliga during 2025, tallying up ten goals and assists in just 29 matches since his transfer from Hammerby earlier this year.
This includes a tally of two goals and five assists already in 14 league appearances this season, with only five players in the league surpassing that assist figure, according to Transfermarkt.
A left-footer, akin to Amad, the resemblance to his compatriot is apparent in his impressive speed and unwavering work rate, all attributes acknowledged by the Bundesliga’s official website:
Toure possesses ‘….blistering speed, a tendency for early crosses, a flair for dribbling, and a Herculean work rate.’
Also a natural ball carrier, the young player—who netted nine goals in just 23 games back in Sweden—ranked in the top 12% of Bundesliga wingers for progressive carries (4.57 per 90), as reported by FBref, as well as entering the top 10% for successful dribbles (1.99).
Toure vs Amad – 25/26 League stats
| Stat (*per game) | Toure | Amad |
|---|---|---|
| Games | 14 | 15 |
| Starts | 14 | 14 |
| Goals | 2 | 2 |
| Assists | 5 | 2 |
| Big chances created | 4 | 4 |
| Key passes* | 1.4 | 1.9 |
| Pass accuracy* | 76% | 87% |
| Successful dribbles* | 1.7 | 1.4 |
| Balls recovered* | 4.6 | 4.0 |
Stats via Sofascore
For context, in the Premier League, Amad has recorded averages of 5.37 and 1.57 for those same metrics, demonstrating he has been quite a dribbling threat himself under Amorim. Furthermore, Toure’s exceptional defensive abilities would allow him to fill in at wing-back if necessary, having also ranked in the top 2% for aerial duels won per 90 within the current season.
The possibility of having such explosive talent on one wing, with Amad on the other, is undoubtedly an exciting prospect for supporters back in Manchester, indicating that Hoffenheim’s player may indeed be worth the £39m investment.
Published: 2025-12-29 20:40:00
source: www.footballfancast.com
