Leeds News

Bielsa to disappoint some Leeds fans as Whites open talks to offload 6ft ace – report

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Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa risks disappointing a portion of the Elland Road faithful, as Football Insider understand Whites Director of Football Victor Orta is in talks with Barnsley over the futures of Mallik Wilks and Aapo Halme.

The United and FC Honka products emerged as potential targets for Daniel Stendel’s side earlier in the week, as the German is keen to bolster his Tykes squad with players who can help the Oakwell natives solidify their place back in the Championship.

Bielsa is thought to be open to the pair joining our Yorkshire rivals as well, as he is not yet convinced they are ready to make an impact in our promotion chase, and would instead benefit from another loan spell, ideally at an English side.

Wilks spent the recently concluded campaign out on loan in League one with Doncaster Rovers and faced Stendel’s side twice but failed to add to his 14 goals and eight assists in the third-tier during his 89 minutes of action.

As for Halme, the towering centre-back spent the term in West Yorkshire with the United first-team, but made just four appearances in the Championship, totalling 142 minutes.

Talks are now underway between United and Barnsley over loan moves for the pair to move to Oakwell for the upcoming campaign. But Whites chiefs are reluctant to giving the green light until they first complete our first signings of the summer, with a deal for Jack Harrison expected as early as next week.

Bielsa risks disappointing a portion of the Elland Road faithful by allowing Wilks to join Barnsley on loan for the upcoming campaign, though, as many fans have been vocal in their hopes of seeing the 6ft winger given a chance with United during our pre-season schedule.

Supporters were particularly intent on the matter when Tykes boss Stendel was quoted openly discussing his admiration for the Whites product earlier in the week.

“I think he is a very good player,” he told BBC Radio Sheffield. “When I [look] back on last season, I think the games against Doncaster, for me, both the home game and the away game, were difficult games and very close.

“He is one player who played very well against us. He is a good player. We have some good players in our head, and maybe we can sign one or two players that we want.”

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