Leeds United do not have a buy-back option for Mallik Wilks, according to The Athletic journalist Phil Hay.
The 20-year-old left Elland Road to join fellow Yorkshire side Barnsley over the summer, and featured against his old club in Sunday’s 2-0 win for Marcelo Bielsa’s men.
Writing in a Q&A after the match, Hay said: “I don’t think there’s a buy-back option.
“He was part of the drive to cut excess salaries off the wage bill and raise money to meet FFP limits.
“Realistically, Bielsa wasn’t going to involve him this season. He was decent today – didn’t look out of place in the Championship.”
Did Leeds do the right thing by selling Wilks?
It’s maybe still too early to tell in all honesty, but one thing is for sure, Marcelo Bielsa doesn’t rush into decisions absent-mindedly, and will have given plenty of thought to letting Wilks go.
Of course, the 20-year-old has plenty of talent, and a shedload of potential, but if the Argentine saw fit to let him leave Leeds then you have to trust him in that choice.
Certainly, nothing in Wilks’ early showings at Barnsley would suggest that Leeds have made a dreadful mistake.
One goal in seven appearances is hardly Ballon d’Or winning form, and his pass completion rate of just 57%, as per Whoscored, would hardly go down a treat with Bielsa’s brand of high intensity attacking keep-ball.
The fact that he taking three shots a game as well, but has only hit the back of the net once would seem to suggest that Wilks is quite a wasteful finisher.
That equates to one goal from 21 shots, a chance conversion rate of less than 5%.
If there is one factor that should convince Leeds fans that they can manage without Wilks, it is the scintillating form of Eddie Nketiah.
His late goal against Barnsley on Sunday now takes his tally to four in six for United, at a rate of just 1.5 shots per game, as per Whoscored.
He is a natural-born finisher, and even though his deal isn’t a permanent one, if he can fire Leeds to promotion then he will be fondly remembered for years and years to come.