Friday, 7th February, 2014
Ligue 2's leading scorer, Metz striker Diafra Sakho, is rapidly becoming a big transfer topic in Europe, and especially in England, with his club's academy director confirming that at least 15 scouts attend every game to take in his performances.
Sakho has risen through the Metz ranks in France to earn his big break this season. The club are fighting for promotion, and Sakho is showing the way to goal with 12 in 21 games.
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His consistent ability to hit the back of the net has, unsurprisingly, caught the attention of a whole host of different clubs, with Premier League outfit Newcastle even credited with holding talks over doing a deal for the 24-year-old.
However, the Magpies may be facing some very intense competition this summer, as Metz academy chief Denis Schaeffer opened up on the striker's extensive following.
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In an exclusive chat with Inside Futbol, Schaeffer said: "Every game, there are around 15 international clubs who come to the matches to see him. English clubs are here.
"I'm happy he'll stay until the end of the season. Then it will be difficult for us to keep him.
"I hope his future will be at a very important club, like [former Metz academy product] Papiss Cisse, who plays now at Newcastle."
The situation is almost in sharp contrast to the beginning of this decade when Sakho struggled to have an impact, having graduated to the first team in 2009.
A half-season loan spell at US Boulogne, though, transformed his fortunes, with Schaeffer glad to have kept faith.
"He was not ready at 20", Schaeffer added. "Our president wasn't sure. We said we need to work with him one year more.
"After one year we loaned him to a third division club. Now he's a very good striker for the future. Without him the team is not the same and he wants to stay and help us."
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