Done deal: Leeds agree terms to sign attacker with reported £51m release clause
By Alex Stevens
Sporting Lisbon attacker Hadi Sacko has joined Leeds on a season-long loan, it was announced on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old linked up with the Championship club at their training camp after travelling to Ireland on Sunday with Garry Monk’s squad.
Leeds have now confirmed on their official
that Sacko has penned temporary terms with the club as he becomes their third signing of the summer window following last week's arrivals Marcus Antonsson and Kyle Bartley.
Sacko has been with Sporting Lisbon for two years following a £1million move from Bordeaux in 2014 but he is yet to establish himself in their senior side and spent the second half of the 2015-16 season on loan with second-tier French club Sochaux, where he scored twice from 14 appearances.
Nevertheless, Sacko, who plays predominantly on the right wing, is a player of pedigree and has won five France Under-20 caps.
Sporting tied Sacko to a six-year contract and reports at the time said the Portuguese side had included a £51million release clause in his deal.
New Leeds assistant manager Pep Clotet sent the rumour mill into overdrive when he posted an image of some of the squad on Sunday as they arriving at their pre-season training camp in Ireland and Sacko was included for the first time.
The new Leeds management team of Garry Monk and Clotet have intensified efforts to strengthen the squad over the last week.
Striker Antonsson was signed from Swedish club Kalmar in a £2million deal and centre-back Bartley has joined on loan from Swansea.