We can replace Bakary Sako, says Kenny Jackett
Wolves today declared they are confident of replacing Bakary Sako if the star leaves this summer – although they want him to stay.
Head coach Kenny Jackett desperately wants to keep the 26-year-old, but says the search is well under way to fill the winger's boots should he depart when his contract expires in June.
Three goals in the last two games have taken Sako's total to 10 for the season before today's trip to Cardiff.
The Mali international has netted 31 times in 105 League games since his £2.5m move from St Etienne in 2012.
But Jackett believes Wolves can fill that sizeable gap if the French-born flier leaves on a free transfer this summer, with Albion and QPR waiting to re-ignite their interest.
"If he does go, we can fill that gap," said Jackett. "It's possible for us to replace him. We don't want him to go, though.
"But if he does and it's internal, that would be great and that's where we'd look first – if not, we won't hesitate to bring someone else in.
"But we hope he stays and we've been delighted with what he's done. I've generally or always picked him.
"And he's responded and played very well in the near two seasons I've been here."
With Wolves looking to develop their own talent, Jackett would look initially within their own ranks.
"We have one or two wide men within the club – Connor Hunte and Jordan Graham playing in the Under-21s and Mehki Leacock-McLeod in the youth team," said the boss.
Hunte, who is 18 and came from Chelsea, 19-year-old Graham (Villa) and Leacock-McLeod, 17 (Fulham) have all arrived within the last 18 months to play in the academy and/or Under-21s.
"I wouldn't hesitate to put them in if I thought that was right," added Jackett.
"They're all pretty impressive in the 18-21 age group.
"Our Under-18s beat Manchester United down here 1-0 this week and we looked like we had as good as them if not better in terms of quality of players. It was really encouraging to see that."
In the meantime, Jackett is looking for Sako to reproduce his dazzling performance against Fulham on Tuesday, when he set up one goal and scored twice.
"His strikes the other day took us away from the opposition," said the boss.
"It will do his confidence the world of good because it had been a while since he'd scored."