OPINION
Leeds United have been decisive and generous – some might say overly generous – in securing their senior players to long-terms contracts since Andrea Radrizzani took over as owner.
But the club are heading for trouble unless they can tie brilliant young striker Mallik Wilks to a new contract.
The 19-year-old academy product has made a huge and immediate impact at loan club Doncaster Rovers as he continues the development that has long marked him out as something special.
He marked his his debut for the League One club with a goal in their first match of the season at Southend United and followed it up with further strikes against Wycombe Wanderers and Scunthorpe United.
Three goals in three matches has proved beyond doubt that Wilks has made the step up from League Two, where he had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Grimsby Town, appear a relatively simple one.
But there is a fly in the ointment as far as Leeds are concerned.
Wilks is in the final year of his contract and, unless he can be tied to a new deal by transfer and contract negotiator Victor Orta, can leave as a free agent next summer.
Leeds would be due to development costs, but nowhere near the £7million they got from Burnley for Charlie Taylor.
Wilks has made just a single first-team appearance for United, while Taylor made 104 before his move into the Premier League.
The teenager is good and is demonstrating the potential to follow the likes of Taylor, Lewis Cook and Sam Byram from the Leeds youth ranks all the way into the English top flight.
Leeds have a real gem on their hands and the more he sparkles on loan, the quicker they must act in securing him to a long-term contract.