Despite interest from the Premier League, Kenny Jackett still believes Wolverhampton Wanderers could persuade Bakary Sako to sign a new contract.
The 26-year-old has been a key part of the Molineux club’s rise up the league ladder over the past couple of seasons, hitting 12 goals as they clinched the League One title last term. He has already matched this tally this time round in six fewer games, and this has helped Wolves mount a surprise bid for a place in the Championship playoffs.
Sako, currently on international duty when he will hope to add to his five goals and 12 caps for Mali, was linked with a move to West Bromwich Albion in January. And with his contract set to expire during the summer the Premier League side are likely to renew their interest at the end of the season, although Jackett still hopes to persuade the striker to stay.
“The situation with him has intensified in the last few months,” he told the club’s official site. “But are we an option for him for next season? Yes, we are. We like Sako here. I have consistently picked him and he is a crowd favourite. We are all very positive towards him. We want him here next season and the door is open to him for staying.”
Wolves are currently eighth in the Championship standings, just two points behind sixth-place Ipswich Town in the hunt for a playoff place or, to look at it another way, only seven off an automatic route to successive promotions and the Premier League. They resume their quest this weekend with the trip to Nottingham to face Dougie Freedman’s Forest.
