Yesterday, Leeds United announced their first signing of the summer, bringing in Sporting Lisbon speedster Hadi Sacko, who had been on loan at the Whites last season.
Sacko joined on loan with a monster €60 million release clause in his contract, although this was soon explained away as a standard thing for Portuguese teams to do as a form of protection. In the end, Leeds United got their man for just 3.33% of that huge figure – Sacko signing on for just €2 million (£1.7 million).
✍️ #LUFC can today confirm the permanent signing of Hadi Sacko from Sporting Lisbon. Read more at https://t.co/t5ECXW7ZMC pic.twitter.com/MHy6l4LFt2
— Leeds United (@LUFC) June 2, 2017
The 23-year-old French youngster made 38 Sky Bet Championship appearances for Leeds United during their 2016/17 campaign – scoring twice and setting up four assists for teammates. His speed on the ball was also evident in the team-leading 67 successful dribbles that he completed last season.
There are elements of the youngster’s game that are frustrating for Leeds supporters, such as his at-times wayward shooting and final ball decision-making, but these are elements of his game that many hope can be coached and honed, making the young speedster somewhat of a bargain buy at £1.7 million.
However, in news emerging via Portuguese website and publication O Jogo, that €2 million/£1.7 million fee is not the last business Leeds United will have with Sporting over the Sacko signature. O Jogo said in an article that “Sporting confirmed receiving two million euros” in the immediate deal but that an inserted clause could add “another million by [Sacko] meeting goals.”
That wasn’t the end of the news that O Jogo announced over the deal that saw Sacko sign on a three-year deal at Elland Road. Sporting also insisted that a future transfer clause be added to the deal that would see that the Portuguese club “gets 20 percent of an asset at a future transfer.”
