OPINION
Leeds United have been given a warning from Doncaster Rovers that they are eager to take advantage of Mallik Wilks’ contract situation by trying to sign him permanently.
As manager Grant McCann pointed out less than subtly, the striker is way down the pecking order at his parent club and has a big decision to make over his future in the coming months, amid plentiful interest from elsewhere.
“My personal opinion is he will not ever get a chance at Leeds,” said McCann, as quoted by the Yorkshire Post. “I think that they will strengthen again in January and they are strong up there (in attack), with the boy Tyler Roberts. It is going to be difficult for Mallik.
“Him and his agent need to decide whether he wants to stay at Leeds and extend his contract or Mallik wants to go and sample the Football League. “He loves it here. If it was my decision, I would sign him today as he has huge potential in him. But if he keeps going in the way he is, there are going to be clubs sniffing around him.”
Leeds are heading for trouble unless they can tie the exciting young forward to a new contract.
They will be well aware Wilks is in the final year of his contract and, unless he can be tied to a new deal, is able to leave as a free agent next summer.
Is he worth the effort for contract and transfer negotiator Victor Orta? Should the club demonstrate their admiration with a lucrative, long-term deal? Yes. And, definitely.
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.
On Wednesday night, he netted his fourth goal in 10 matches for Doncaster as he proves he can cut it in League One after making the step up from League Two, where he had loan spells at Accrington Stanley and Grimsby Town, appear a relatively simple one.
Leeds would not be able to fall back on a multi-million pound transfer fee if Wilks did leave, either.
He is not like Charlie Taylor, who had made 104 first-team appearances before joining Burnley for a fee that eventually yieled £7million for development costs even though he left as a free agent.