The Wolverhampton Wanderers boss is said to want the Crystal Palace midfielder back at Molineux.
Paul Lambert has responded to reports linking Wolverhampton Wanderers with a return for Bakary Sako, as quoted by the Daily Record.
The same publication reported earlier this week that Crystal Palace are ready to offload the Mali midfielder next month, with Wolves keen on bringing him back to Molineux.
Sako scored 38 goals in 124 games at Molineux, but left for Palace at the end of his contract 18 months ago, and has played just 87 minutes of football this season.
Crystal Palace’s Bakary Sako (second right)
However when asked about the speculation, Lambert said: “There’s no doubt he had a brilliant time here. You have to respect that he is a Crystal Palace player.
“Do I like him as a footballer? He is a handful. An absolute handful. But he has the African Nations Cup, so there would be a lot to weigh up. But there is no doubt that he was a massive success here.”
Wolves have no shortage of players in Sako’s position, with high-profile Portuguese trio Ivan Cavaleiro, Helder Costa and Joao Teixeira arriving at Molineux last summer.
However, the Birmingham Mail reported this week that Teixeira is one of six players who could be allowed to leave the Championship strugglers this winter.
Wolves, who finished seventh in Sako’s final season at the club, earned only their second win in six games under Lambert on Saturday and climbed to 18th in the table.
Former Wolves favourite Bakary Sako
The Sun reported last week that Lambert is keen to sign Ben Marshall from former club Blackburn Rovers.
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