Leeds United must pull out all the stops to keep hold of Mallik Wilks.
The United academy product has made big impression while on loan at Doncaster Rovers this season and might have now played his last game for his parent club.
The Yorkshire Post claim the League One club are keen to keep the forward for the entire campaign and have spoken to Leeds representatives about extending Wilks’ six-month loan deal, which is due to expire on 2 January.
Extending the loan of Wilks could mean he will never play for his boyhood club again. He is out of contract at the end of the season and there is likely to be extensive interest from Football League clubs.
There has been no sign, or talk, that Leeds are working on extending Wilks’ contract.
Why not? Recruitment chief Victor Orta must go into overdrive to extend the terms of the 19-year-old.
He is United through and through, has developed considerably while on loan in England’s third tier and has the ability to be a threat in any of the three forward positions.
He has scored four goals and supplied three assists in 14 matches for Doncaster this season and had started 12 consecutive league matches until he was dropped to the bench for Saturday’s 3-2 win over Rochdale.
Leeds must act swiftly to extend Wilks’ contract before sanctioning another loan, which will enable him to gain more valuable first team experience. He is a young player of huge potential and they need to keep him long term.
Naturally, Wilks is not going to displace Kemar Roofe, Patrick Bamford – who is due to return from injury in January – and Tyler Roberts this season.
But it shouldn’t be forgotten he has been used mainly on the flanks by Doncaster this season and only once as a centre-forward.