It is looking increasingly likely that Mallik Wilks is set to leave Leeds United on a permanent basis in the current transfer window.

According to the latest reports from Football Insider, newly promoted Barnsley are set to complete a £1million deal for Wilks by the end of the week, despite reported interest from Championship rivals Hull City.

Although his destination is yet to be confirmed, it appears that Leeds have decided that they can afford to let Wilks go permanently.

But is that the right decision? Here, we take a look at two pros and two cons to this call being made by the Elland Road hierarchy.

Pro: More room to manoeuvre in the transfer window

Wilks isn't the only fringe player who looks like leaving Leeds this summer.

Centre back Aapo Halme has already completed a permanent move to Barnsley, while there is plenty of speculation around a number of other players who have struggled to make an impact during their time at Elland Road.

Taking this approach is something that appears to make sense for Leeds. It frees up space in the squad and on the wage bill, as well as raising funds to potentially bring in new signings to strengthen Marcelo Bielsa's side as they look to push for promotion again next season.

Pro: Better opportunities for Wilks himself

Since graduating to Leeds' senior side from their youth ranks in 2016, Wilks has made just a single FA Cup appearance during his time with the Yorkshire, having spent the majority of it out on loan elsewhere.

During his time away at Doncaster in particular however, Wilks reaped the benefits of a regular position in the side, scoring 18 goals and providing ten assists in 55 appearances in all competitions for the League One side.

With Wilks unlikely to face as strong competition for places at Hull or Barnsley as he will at Leeds, it could give him the chance to show what he is really capable of at Championship level, potentially allowing him to catch the eye of sides even further up the division.

Con: Leeds lose an option

Towards the back end of last season, there was a suggestion amongst some observers that it was the lack of a creative spark that ultimately cost Leeds the points that would have secured them an automatic promotion place.

Wilks record at Doncaster suggests that he does have the potential to make things happen, and although he may not be the one called on to do that when it really matters - if Wilks is able to step up earlier in the campaign, then it would give those key players the chance to remain fully fit throughout the season, allowing them to make the big contributions when Leeds really need them to at the business end of the season.

Con: Could he come back to haunt them

How often do you see it where a former player comes back to haunt a former club?

Allowing Wilks to move to another side in the Championship for next season mean that Leeds are leaving themselves open to such an occasion. It should be noted that it was a defeat to a then relegation battling Wigan Athletic on 19th April that sparked Leeds' collapse in form that ultimately cost them an automatic promotion place.

With all due respect to Barnsley, you wouldn't be surprised if they are in a similar position at that stage of this season, and in what may go down as a quirk of the fixture computer they, and possibly Wilks, are set to travel to Elland Road on 18th April next year.