Manchester United winger Amad Diallo has directly asked the Red Devils to allow him to join Sunderland on loan, Sunderland Nation understands.
Amad had a brilliant loan spell at Sunderland last season and it left a special impression with the Ivorian.
He had hoped to use that as a platform to ignite his career at Old Trafford, but an injury in preseason put a real spanner in those works.
Amad is fit again now and has been around the Man Utd squad, although he failed to make it onto the pitch for the FA Cup tie at Newport County.
Sunderland Nation understands he has now directly requested to be allowed to return to Sunderland on loan for the second half of the season.
There are still obstacles to overcome, though, specifically financial ones. Unlike last season, Man Utd want most of Amad’s wages covered in the loan deal. Sunderland will attempt to talk them down on that, although they are happy to take on some cost.
One thing Amad has made clear is that Sunderland is the only club in the Championship he would want to sign for.
After being linked with Middlesbrough earlier this month, he contacted a Sunderland fan group to tell them it was ‘fake’ and he would only join Sunderland.
A deal is far from certain, it must be stressed. There is also a chance that Man Utd could reassess their options and choose to be cautious and keep him, or they suffer an injury that changes the picture.
However, there is certainly now a growing hope that Amad can return to Sunderland for a second loan spell.
READ MORE SUNDERLAND NEWS
- Sunderland contract situation: Who is nearing the end of their current deal?
- Top Ten: Sunderland's best ever January signings
- Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham names two former Sunderland players as his heroes
- Jordan Willis and seven other Sunderland careers ruined by injury
- Sell to thrive, not sell to survive: The Sunderland 'model' explained - in their own words
- Luke O'Nien and eight other Sunderland players who successfully changed positions
More must-reads: