Leeds look to Sakho

French prospect
The 25-year-old forward has joined on a one-year loan with a view to a permanent €4.2m transfer after impressing on trial at Elland Road. "He can work on the flanks as well as down the middle and I liked what I saw. He looks a good prospect for us and his versatility will be important," said Leeds manager Peter Reid.

Albacete boost
Spanish club Albacete Balompié have also agreed loan moves for the Villarreal CF pair of defender Unai Vergara and striker Carlos Reina Aranda. Unai, a 26-year-old Spanish international, and Reina Aranda, 23, will spend the coming campaign with the Primera División new boys.

Schalke setback
Meanwhile, FC Schalke 04 defender Aníbal Matellán will miss the second leg of the German club's UEFA Intertoto Cup final against SV Pasching on 26 August. The 26-year-old Argentinian suffered a groin injury in Tuesday's 2-0 first-leg victory in Austria and is likely to be out of action for up to a month.

Miñambres blow
Another defender with injury worries is Real Madrid CF's Óscar Miñambres, who faces five weeks of inactivity after returning from the club's tour of Asia with a badly bruised foot. Although the 22-year-old will not need an operation, he will miss the rest of Madrid's pre-season, including Spanish Super Cup games against RCD Mallorca, and will still be on the sidelines when Madrid kick off their title defence.

Espartero out
Even worse news for newly promoted French club FC Metz, who must do without midfield player Mario Espartero for six months due to a serious knee injury. The 25-year-old, who skipped nine months of last season with a similar injury, will have surgery in a bid to cure the problem. He could be back in February according to the Metz medical team.

Tottenham woe
Finally, Tottenham Hotspur FC's Uruguayan midfield player Gustavo Poyet could be unavailable for six weeks after scans confirmed that the 33-year-old broke his wrist in a friendly against Sporting Clube de Portugal last Sunday.