OPINION
Depending on who you are, Leeds United’s failure to secure promotion to the Premier League will mean something very different.
For the fans at Elland Road, they will be disappointed not to see their side playing among England’s elite after years in the wilderness.
For manager Marcelo Bielsa, he will be gutted he was unable to guide his new side to the top flight in his first season in charge – although he now knows he has another opportunity to write his name into the history books at the Whites.
For owner Andrea Radrizzani, he will be frustrated to have missed out on the riches that the Premier League has to offer, with the Italian having to bankroll another expensive season in the Championship.
Unfortunately for the Whites, money is at the heart of the game right now and while they know a new quality signing or two could elevate them from a promotion push to title hopefuls, they simply do not have the funds to do so.
The Yorkshire Evening Post report that they might be forced to cash in on one or two of their high profile talents, the likes of Pontus Jansson and Jack Clarke touted as potential exits, and with the likes of a new striker needed – Patrick Bamford a multi-million pound capture 12 months ago – there is little doubting tight funds are going to limit their ability to strengthen.
However, many at Elland Road might have forgotten about Mallik Wilks, their 20-year-old striker who has featured just once for the first team with his recent seasons spent out on loan at Accrington Stanley, Grimsby Town and Doncaster Rovers.
His boss at Donny, Grant McCann, has insisted to Leeds Live that there is plenty of interest in his capture this summer but his record could see Leeds save millions of pounds in their hunt for a new attacker.
With 16 goals and 12 assists playing as a winger and a centre forward, he ticks an awful lot of boxes and even if it is as backup, Leeds cannot afford to not give him a chance in the first team.
At 20-years-old he has plenty of potential and he has proved his worth in the third tier – now he could finally get his chance in the Championship.