Leeds United: Five things you may want to know about new signing Hadi Sacko

LEEDS UNITED have made their third signing of the summer, as French forward Hadi Sacko joins the the Garry Monk revolution.
By The Newsroom
Published 6th Jul 2016, 08:46 BST
Updated 25th Aug 2016, 18:23 BST
New Leeds United signing Hadi Sacko.New Leeds United signing Hadi Sacko.
New Leeds United signing Hadi Sacko.

With Tommaso Bianchi, Giuseppe Bellusci and Casper Sloth all being shipped out the door, Monk is beginning to assemble his own squad with the earlier arrivals of Marcus Antonsson and Kyle Bartley.

After days of speculation the club confirmed on Tuesday that Sacko was their latest recruit, joining on a season-long loan. Comfortable playing on either wing, in a central role or as an attacking midfielder, Sacko is described as a skillful player who is bursting with acceleration and natural pace.

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With no particular top-flight experience, he is a relatively unknown entity.

Here are five things you may want to know about the 22 year-old ...

1: Signed by Sporting Lisbon for €1m in August 2014, Sacko is yet to play for the Portuguese club’s first team. He has, however, represented their B side, scoring 10 goals in 54 games. he has a reported €60m buyout clause in his contract at Sporting.

2: His move to Leeds United was given away on July 3 when new assistant manager Pep Clotet tweeted a picture of a number of players arriving in Ireland for a pre-season camp. Rumours began to surface that the forward may be on trial, but he has secured a season-long loan at Elland Road, with a view to a permanent switch.

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3: At 18-years-old, Sacko made his professional debut on September 20, 2012 as a 75th-minute replacement for ex-Newcastle forward Henri Saivet as Bordeaux beat Club Brugge 4-0 in the first group game of the UEFA Europa League.

4: Sacko has represented France at Under-16, Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20 level, making a combined 30 appearances and scoring seven goals. he played in the 2014 Toulon tournament, a tournament that included Paris Saint Germain’s Marquinhos and Adrien Rabot, as well as England internationals Harry Kane, Eric Dier and Jack Butland.

5: Born in the Parisian suburb of Corbeil-Essonnes; Sacko is of Malian descent and with it now looking unlikely that he will earn a full cap for France, a switch to the West African country is not beyond doubt.

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