What do Leeds United’s links with MLS star Cyle Larin mean for Mallik Wilks?

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Mallik Wilks is pushing for a chance at Leeds Unites but the addition of Orlando City’s Cyle Larin would push him down the pecking order.

While Leeds United were so reliant on Chris Wood last season, they have spread the goals around in the early weeks of Thomas Christiansen’s reign.

Pierre-Michel Lasogga capped a fine debut with two well-taken strikes in Saturday’s 5-0 thrashing of Burton Albion, Kemar Roofe has five in seven while Caleb Ekuban should also be a big hit if he can replicate the form that saw him score at a prolific rate in Albania in 2016/17.

And the Sun on Sunday (10^th September, page 58) reports that Leeds are still interested in reinforcing their frontline further with Orlando City star Cyle Larin on their radar.

The 22-year-old Canadian international is one of the brightest stars of North American football, scoring 42 goals in 83 games across the last three seasons. An MLS Rookie of the Year award in 2015 was well earned thanks to a tally of 17, more than any newcomer in the history of the American top flight.

Larin, who has also been linked with the likes of Celtic, Nottingham Forest and Everton since the turn of the year, fits the bill in this new Leeds United era. He’s young, promising and, valued at £2 million, relatively cheap.

Waiting in the wings

However, you wonder what young Mallik Wilks thinks about all this. The 18-year-old, who signed professional terms in December, is one of the jewels of Leeds’ renowned academy and has everything required to follow in the footsteps of Lewis Cook, Sam Byram, Ronaldo Vieira and co.

And, after scoring at an impressive rate for Leeds’ youth teams, Wilks has taken to senior football like a duck to water. Joining Accrington Stanley on loan in the summer, the teenager capped his debut with a 95^th minute equaliser against Notts County and looks set to play a big role in the coming months.

However, Leeds signing Larin would merely put another obstacle in front of Wilks’ first-team chances. Considering the success they have enjoyed with the academy in recent years, Leeds must keep that in mind.