Leeds United endured a tough end to the Championship campaign in the season which just concluded as they failed to clinch a playoff spot, which implies that another season of toil awaits them in the English second division. Under the tutelage of Garry Monk, the Whites did appear to be capable enough to earn a promotion but had succumbed in the business end and withered away under pressure.
Nonetheless, the West Yorkshire based club chiselled a pretty decent development and should look forward to carrying on the good work they managed to manoeuvre for a major chunk of the campaign.
However, with Monk’s departure, it would be of paramount importance for the Leeds United owners to keep the group’s cohesion and camaraderie intact for the benefit of the successor of Monk. Apparently, they are going exactly in the aforesaid direction and are attempting to lure Hadi Sacko to Elland Road on a permanent basis.
Sacko was brought on loan last season by the Peacocks from Portuguese outfit, Sporting CP, and at the onset, it appeared as if he would be a revelation in the Championship. But owing to his sporadic run of form and objectionable inconsistency, the 23-year-old attacker was reduced to the stature of a spectator from the bench (more often than not).
Despite that, Sacko managed to accumulate 38 appearances for Leeds United, scoring two goals and mustering three assists. He divided opinions of the fans and quite rightly so: for he had raw pace in his legs but didn’t really register an end product on most of the occasions. And as a result, he started to fall behind in the pecking order.
With the latest reports claiming that Leeds United, who finished 7th in the table in the English second division have triggered the option to buy him for £1.5million, it goes without saying that it would be a risk worth taking. Though the Frenchman has been seen going haywire in the final third, his blasting runs, the ability to dribble meticulously and tendency to make defensive contributions aren’t the traits to be ignored completely. He has the calibre and arguably, it is his manner of producing the output that he needs to brush up.
Leeds United faithful are infuriated with the manner in which the club concluded the season and quite rightly so. Sacko, if infuses some consistency in the manner in which he operates, can really be an asset for any side. The transfer market has been inflating rapidly and considering the same, the right winger is a bargain and having piled some experience in the Championship last season, he can be the surprise package if entrusted with confidence from whoever becomes the new coach.
Statistics Credits: WhoScored.com
