SUNDERLAND hope Amad Diallo's success on Wearside will help the club attract more top talent in the transfer market this summer.

Amad headed for the Stadium of Light a year ago on the back of a disappointing spell with Rangers but the Black Cats helped the Manchester United youngster rebuild his confidence and he ended up enjoying a superb campaign, shining as one of the best attackers in the Championship.

Erik ten Hag is now considering the best course of action for the 20-year-old next season, but Amad hinted at a Sunderland return when he tweeted: "I don't know what the future holds for me, but I hope that one day we will see each other again. Thanks for everything".

He then set tongues wagging some more when he responded with a 'handshake' emoji on Instagram to reports that he'd be open to a Sunderland return this summer as long as Tony Mowbray was still in charge.

If Manchester United decide another loan move will be beneficial, Sunderland will face competition from the Premier League and overseas after the forward made such a big impression on Wearside.

Regardless of what the future holds for Amad, Kristjaan Speakman hopes the youngster's impressive spell at Sunderland will have been noted by clubs and transfer targets and will aid the Black Cats in the summer window.

"Amad's performances, the way he's taken to supporters, he's absolutely bought into what we require from him and he has a really nice personality," said the club's sporting director.

"Hundreds of thousands of Sunderland supporters have taken to him.

"We're really proud that we've helped his career as well, he came off the back of the move to Glasgow, and he himself would say he maybe came with low confidence. To be able to build him back up hopefully bodes well for him but also for us when we're trying to recruit, whether on loan or permanent transfers, that this is a really really good place to come for players, regardless of age."