Wayne Rooney does not expect to secure a deal to bring Manchester United youngster Amad to Derby County on loan.
The Derby boss, and United’s all-time leading scorer, has been keen to take the Ivorian for the remainder of the season, although competition for the teenager is fierce.
There are other Championship clubs keen on reaching an agreement, while Dutch side Feyenoord are also interested having missed out on a summer deal due to an injury to Amad.
Italy is also an option for the 19-year-old, where he made his breakthrough playing for Atalanta before securing his move to Old Trafford last year, and Borussia Dortmund have now reportedly entered the race.
Ralf Rangnick has granted Amad permission to leave United during the January transfer window, with his playing time limited during his first full season at the club.
Rooney has been working hard to try and take the winger to Derby, although the former United forward now looks to have given up hope.
"He is a Manchester United player and obviously he is a player of interest from a few clubs, I know that,” Rooney said, as reported by Derbyshire Live.
"Obviously I keep close tabs on some of the young emerging talent, not just from Manchester United but from other clubs and there are various players we are looking at in terms of what players can we bring in to improve the squad, what players can we bring in to play and give us the best chance of staying up.
"He is a player who of course I like him. If you are asking me is he going to be with us at some point in January, then that is very unlikely."
United remain keen for Amad to gain some match experience during the second half of the season, and have insisted any club that makes a loan offer will need to guarantee meaningful minutes for the teenager.
Amad has made just one senior appearance this season, having recovered from a thigh injury which prevented him heading to Feyenoord last summer.
The Ivorian has started just three games for United since he arrived at the club last January, having agreed a deal to move to the club on deadline day of the 2019 summer transfer window.
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