Amad Diallo Shines as Højlund Faces Criticism: Paul Parker’s Take on United’s Striker Dilemmas

In the latest transfer news, Manchester United’s Amad Diallo looks set to secure a new deal after a stellar breakthrough season. Here at bettingexpert, Devang Prasad caught up with former United defender Paul Parker, who has been full of praise for the young Ivorian winger, describing him as one of the few shining lights in what has been a tough season for Ruben Amorim’s side.

“He Reminds Me of Giggs”

After months of uncertainty, in which it seemed like Diallo might be heading out under former manager Erik ten Hag, United are now preparing to announce a new long-term contract for the winger. Diallo’s performances this season have left a lasting impression, and Parker can’t help but draw comparisons to United legend Ryan Giggs.

“Amad has been flawless. Wow. He really reminds me of Giggs in his attitude and the way he plays. He takes on his man, and he’s always one of the best players on the pitch. His attitude is great, and he’s finally adding the numbers too. He has a great end product,” said Parker.

Parker Calls Out Ten Hag’s Mistake

Diallo’s loan spell at Sunderland during the 2022/2023 season was a clear success, with the winger scoring 14 goals and providing 3 assists. This stint helped him develop both his attacking flair and his ability to influence games in a physical Championship. It’s this loan spell that convinced Parker that Diallo had the quality to succeed at Old Trafford.

“I said quite early when he came back from Sunderland that he should play, and it makes sense if he was unhappy with the lack of minutes. People didn’t see it, and neither did the manager,” Parker added.

“Now, he’s showing everyone that he’s good enough to play, week in, week out. He’s versatile, which helps the team, but his attacking skills are so unique. We need to tap into that, whether as an attacking midfielder or winger—not as a wing-back.”

Højlund’s Struggles at United

While Diallo is riding high, United’s Rasmus Højlund has faced a challenging period. The young striker has struggled to adapt to the Premier League’s intensity and pace, drawing criticism for his emotional reactions on the pitch. Most notably, his frustration was evident when United were beaten by Wolves at Molineux.

Despite the backlash, Parker believes the criticism is justified.

“I definitely think it’s justified. 100%. He hasn’t been good enough, and he’s not the kind of player United need. He constantly falls over, and that’s something people are talking about,” Parker remarked.

“The fans have been patient with him, but the media isn’t. I can’t see him improving enough, and it doesn’t look like he’s listening to Amorim,” he continued.

Parker, who was initially optimistic about Højlund’s potential, now doubts whether the striker will ever meet the required standards to lead the line at United.

“He can only make one run, and it’s always the same. He doesn’t finish properly. We saw again against Alisson, he didn’t even challenge him. It was very poor,” Parker said.

“I liked him when he arrived, but for me, it’s gone in the wrong direction. Completely. Now, I really doubt he will ever be the striker we need and can rely on.”

A Comparison to Nunez

Parker also highlighted another striker issue at United, comparing Højlund to Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez, who, despite his flaws, seems to have more of a presence on the pitch.

“Højlund lacks that presence, which someone like Nunez has. But Nunez, for all the right reasons, is dangerous. He can cost you games with his mistakes, but for some reason, the media never mentions it,” Parker observed.