Premier League giants Everton have been watching Leeds United youngster Mallik Wilks so could Matthew Pennington play a part in a potential deal?
Everton should go out of their way to find out exactly how much Leeds United want to sign Matthew Pennington on a permanent deal.
The Goodison Park graduate is spending the season on loan at Elland Road and, despite his impact being limited by an injury suffered almost immediately after his arrival, the Yorkshire Evening Post reports that the defender has already done enough to win over the Leeds chiefs.
It is understood that the Championship giants are keen to ensure Pennington stays in West Yorkshire beyond the expiration of his temporary deal.
But could Leeds’ Pennington hopes play into Everton’s hands?
The 18-year-old striker is widely viewed as the most exciting youngster in Leeds’ academy right now and, after enhancing his reputation by netting five times on loan at Accrington Stanley in the first half of the campaign, he has been tipped to follow the likes of Sam Byram and Lewis Cook into the big time.
Wilks has a year-and-a-half remaining on his contract at Leeds but his route to the first-team has been muddied of late with the club bringing in a number of other highly-rated striking prospects, the latest Leyton Orient’s Sam Dalby.
And Everton would have nothing to lose by enquiring about Wilks’ availability while negotiating the possible sale of Pennington in a few months’ time.
That could give Leeds a difficult decision to make.
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