Good Morning Everyone Spanish U19 Striker Rafa Mujica is on his way to Elland Road. The 20yo's contact expires today with Barcelona B, therefor becoming a free agent. He is believed to be on his way to Thorp Arch to undertake his medical! Mujica netted 7 times last term in 33 appearances. Meanwhile, a Leeds Utd academy product could be on his way out of ER! Malik Wilkes signed his scholarship with his boyhood club back in 2015, and has shown improvement year on year. He enjoyed limited success in the 2017/18 season with Accrington Stanley scoring 3 times in 21 appearances before signing for Grimsby in the January transfer window. Unfortunately, this move turned out to be disastrous. In 6 appearances Wilkes was unable to break his duck. Last season Wilkes was sent out on loan to Doncaster Rovers. He recorded 15 goals in 45 appearances and 8 assists! Let's remember, he was playing in an average Donny side with a lot of bigger clubs around them. Barnsley are now keen to permanently sign Wilkes, and it looks like Leeds are OK with that. Former Leeds player, now pundit Noel Whelan believes Wilkes deserves a chance to show Bielsa what he can do!!! “Bielsa should have a look at Mallik Wilks in pre-season to see if he has got something to offer the first team,”. “He scored regularly at Doncaster last season and goalscorers are worth their weight in gold. “Our only two senior strikers are Patrick Bamford and Kemar Roofe. They need competition. Wilks has done well on loan and deserves a fair crack of the whip. “I’m concerned that they would let him go so early in the window. It doesn’t make sense. If you get someone better later in the summer, loan him or sell him then.”
Morning all... I’ve read lots of positive comments over the past few months in regards to Wilkes, he has played quite a few games wide on the wing. As we’re looking for this exact position in surprised he hasn’t been given a chance to show Bielsa what he could do in the team. Maybe a sign Harrison and Costa on on their way...
Morning all, Not surprised Wilks is being allowed to leave. Saw him a few times playing for Doncaster and thought at the time he's not a Bielsa-type player. As for Whelan does he think Bielsa has decided to get rid of Wilks without thoroughly assessing him first? He really does come out with some crap at times.
Good Morning to Matt Doc and co from a dull Bardsey the Sahara has missed us! It strikes me that when we sign the Spanish boy next week we will probably sell Wilkes What is the position with Forshaw and Fulham I think we can let him go £2,5m a loss of £2m Phillips if we get offered £13m I would take it I would buy Freeman for £4.5mand get a proper stopper Westwood Travers to replace the clowns
proper stopper, i like that. Good Morning all from a steady rising heat Southampton. Still waiting for that WOW signing,which will hopefully be soon.
Morning all. Can’t say that I’m too excited over another punt for the U23s. Hoping some real quality comes in with the Clarke money.
Is today when the star signings are announced?. Its not that long before we down under surely they will make the plane. If they dont then bielsa will not play them until they have done his pre season training. Then of course they wont be match fit so he will pick dallas again the one match wonder.
Ell, I reported yesterday in the transfer sticky that Mujica is ALREADY at ER, & has been for a few days. Expected to sign this weekend. Rock solid source. Re. Wilkes, it would surprise me if Bielsa didn't have a look at him. If a decision has already been made, I'd have a guess that the club's legal team have assessed his upcoming court case & decided he's going to lose. If it was a risk call like that, I'd accept it, but won't be happy if it is indeed a football call. TBF, it would not surprise me if he's already been well scouted by Bielsa. Speaking of scouts, I was speaking to a freelance one who's a Harrogate Town supporter. He does team assessments rather than finding players. He was actually asked to assess Harrogate & did so professionally, even though it broke his heart. He identified one specific weakness, which was the Harrogate left back. He was duly exploited, and Harrogate unexpectedly tonked. The left back? Our player on loan, Kitiching. It's not all bad, though He says he does ok at CB, which is his natural position. But as a LB, he's howling.
We seem to have high hopes for the U23s who join then release them all too often. Guess it’s sign 10 if one makes the grade it’s worth it?
Re Wilkes A 20yo scoring 15 goals and 8 assists from an average League 1 team in his first full season. If he wasn't already a Leeds player, the LUFC scouts would be all over him!!!
Exactly my worry about Kitching who if he comes back to the U23s is nowhere near the player Hugo Diaz was. Halme and Struijk great at 23 level and both deserve a chance in the first team, so why rid ourselves of Diaz....... unless he has other ideas and releases Kitching
It’s not that simple though wakey. He has a contract that must be honored so unless someone’s willing to take that on or buy him, a loan covering some of his wages is our only option. It’s a result of giving stupid contracts to mediocre players