Leeds United fans have issued a ‘hands-off’ warning to Premier League clubs reportedly keeping close tabs on teenage striker Mallik Wilks.
Football Insider claim Everton, Newcastle and Middlesbrough are closely monitoring the 18-year-old, who has delivered some eyecatching displays while on loan at Accrington.
The reliable football news site claim that scouts from several Premier League clubs have been monitoring Wilks’ progress for the last 18 months since he broke into the Leeds first-team picture and they have continued to track his development while on a half-season loan at the League Two club, which expires in January.
Middlesbrough boss Garry Monk is also said to be a big fan of the youthful forward after working with him during his season at the Elland Road helm in 2016-17.
Football Insider report that Everton and Newcastle are “both lining up possible moves”.
Wilks joined League Two Accrington in August and has scored three goals in 15 appearances, most of which have been as a substitute.
Before temporarily leaving Elland Road, the Leeds academy product signed a 12-month contract extension that runs until the summer of 2019.
Some Leeds fans are concerned about the interest in Wilks, while others called upon the Championship club to recall him from his loan spell and fast-track him into Thomas Christiansen’s struggling side.
Many believe his pace and youthful energy is what the front line is crying out for after seven league defeats in the last nine matches.
This Is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets:
But our striker who plays week in week out couldn’t score in a brothel. And we’ve not got a left back first team player yet we have a young lad out on loan. Just don’t get it.
— tim ellis (@timellis_82) November 9, 2017
Lasogga has scored 5 in about 8 games but you carry on
— Paul LUFC (@pistol1603) November 9, 2017
For Christ’s sake get him back and get him playing, can’t be any worse than what we have
— Andy Bicknell (@bicknell_andy) November 9, 2017
They can look,cellino has gone, @andrearadri is building club no bargains here????
— #del wright (@delwright21) November 9, 2017
Simeone has told Moshri he wants Mr Wilks.
— stephen harper (@stephenharper4) November 9, 2017
Always rated Wilks but I’d be surprised if this was true, he would offer more than a lot of our current 1st team players though #lufc https://t.co/56mhbaxiSD
— Ryan Pinnick (@RPlufc93) November 9, 2017
Mallik Wilks could actually do a job for Leeds, he’s got pace which is what we need.. Why not put Ekuban up front with him?.. #lufc #mot
— Ryan (@LeedsUtdRyan) November 9, 2017
Anyone else think we should look at getting Malik Wilks back rather than signing players in his position, looks like he’s doing a decent job at Accrington and Prem clubs looking at him apparently #lufc
— RightInTheGaryKellys (@RITGK) November 9, 2017
Clear to all that huge changes needed at #LUFC, might be a bit radical to some but why not recall BPF, Denton, Coyle, Wilks and chuck them in, we aren’t going to challenge promotion this season so let’s properly blood them this year and see how they do
— Foz (@chrisfozard) November 9, 2017