Barnsley are willing to let Mallik Wilks stay at relegation rivals Hull City for the remainder of the extended season if they can negotiate new terms, says Gerhard Struber.
The 21-year-old winger has impressed on loan for the Tigers since January, scoring three goals in nine games having not played at all for the Reds following Struber’s November arrival. Hull have said he is set to return to Oakwell after his loan ends on June 30, following their games at home to Charlton Athletic tomorrow and at Birmingham City a week later. The Tigers are currently one place and two points above the relegation zone, while they are winless in 12 matches.
Hull’s statement read: “Mallik Wilks will only be available for the Tigers’ first two games following the resumption of the Sky Bet Championship season with parent club Barnsley unwilling to extend the 21-year-old’s loan deal. Despite wishing to remain at the KCOM Stadium for the conclusion of the campaign, Wilks will return to Oakwell once his loan deal finishes at the end of June.”
Struber said last week that he expected Wilks to stay in East Yorkshire for the remainder of the season. He told the Chronicle yesterday: “He has a contract until the end of June and, after that, we need a completely new deal. We have to speak with Hull about a new deal but, right now, the loan contract will end at the end of June.
“I am hopeful that we find a solution in the next few days but he is a Barnsley player and, when Hull are interested in him, it is clear that we need a transfer fee or we make a new loan deal. We know he is a player with special skills and those special skills have a price on the market.”
Hull manager Grant McCann has also admitted there are 'discussions taking place' for Wilks to stay for the remainder of the season.
Wilks – as well as Toby Sibbick who has returned from a loan at Hearts in Scotland – would not eligible to play for Barnsley in the remainder of the season under EFL rules. Cameron McGeehan is likely to stay at Portsmouth who are in the League One play-offs next month. Struber said of McGeehan: “This is a completely different exchange to Hull and Mallik. This is more realistic.”
