The Liverpool and Leeds United players have impressed for McCann’s Doncaster Rovers this season.
Grant McCann has revealed that talks are underway to extend the spells of two Doncaster Rovers loanees beyond the new year. The League One side currently have players borrowed from Liverpool, Leeds United and Peterborough.
But it is those belonging to the former pair, Herbie Kane (Liverpool) and Mallik Wilks (Leeds), on whom McCann focused on while speaking to BBC Radio Sheffield on Monday.
Asked if conversations have taken place about the futures of Kane, Wilks and Jermaine Anderson (who is on loan from Peterborough), the Doncaster manager replied: “Yes – definitely on two of them.
“But, again, there’s different things that we have to go through. Both Mallik and Herbie are in the middle of sorting out new deals with their parent clubs. I think I’ve touched on this before, as long as the goalposts don’t change for us – because I think we’ve done well for them – then we will extend. We want to extend the both of them because we feel they’ve added real quality to us.
“They both love it here. But there’s other things we have to worry about first. I mean, they have to sort their own end out as well. I think everybody’s on the same page, I really do. So again, it’s just about the timing of it.”
According to McCann, Liverpool in particular have been pleased with their player’s progress since his move to South Yorkshire.
“The conversation with Liverpool; they said this was one of the best loans they’ve had for one of their young players and they’ve been really impressed with the way Herbie’s developed here,” added the Northern Irishman
“And I’d probably go as far as saying that about Mallik as well. He was probably a bit stop-start at Accrington. He was in the team, he was out of the team. Here he’s a lot more games than he’s been used to. With that comes indifference in performance sometimes, but on the whole I think he’s been outstanding, Mallik. He’s got five goals now, so we’re really pleased with his progress and he’s getting better all the time.”
Speaking to the Yorkshire Post last month, McCann stated his belief that Wilks would “not ever” get a chance to play first team football if he was to return to Leeds.
The comments riled a section of the Leeds fanbase, with some even suggesting their side should refuse to sanction future moves for Wilks or any other player to Doncaster.
Should Liverpool and Leeds allow Kane and Wilks to stay with Rovers?
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
