Doncaster Rovers should swoop to sign departing Sheffield Wednesday man - he's a Grant McCann favourite | OneFootball

Doncaster Rovers have got their work started early in the transfer window, and one name has arrested the attention of many fans already.

Doncaster Rovers have got their work started early in the transfer window, and one name has arrested the attention of many fans already.

Grant McCann has sealed the signing of departing Barrow midfielder Robbie Gotts before the transfer window has even officially opened, and now another free-agent deal has been dangled in front of supporters.

Doncaster are readying for a return to Sky Bet League One after three seasons away, securing promotion and the League Two title in McCann’s second term back in South Yorkshire with a stellar finish to the campaign.

Mallik Wilks has performed the best for Grant McCann

One name who has caught the eye of supporters is Mallik Wilks. The former Rovers man has been let go by county rivals Sheffield Wednesday, after spending time on loan with Rotherham United in the most recent campaign.

Wilks, who has also pulled on the shirts of Hull City and Barnsley after coming through the ranks at Leeds United, shone in his last stint in Doncaster.

He was part of the Rovers squad that fell to defeat on penalties against Charlton Athletic in the 2018/19 League One play-off semi-finals, after playing every single one of the club’s league fixtures in the third tier.

In the 46-game season, Wilks netted 14 times and assisted eight goals, leading the way for a Doncaster side who went tantalisingly close to a shot at promotion into the Championship.

In all competitions, Wilks managed 16 goals and 12 assists that season, totalling 28 goal contributions in 55 fixtures.

Now 26 years old, he remains a player that would fit perfectly into the McCann system. Much the same as Luke Molyneux and Jordan Gibson in the most recent season, or Lincoln City loanee Hakeeb Adelakun before that, a skillful winger who is more than willing to go alone and take a chance is exactly what McCann gravitates towards in wide areas.

McCann likes attacking players who can express themselves, drive the team forward, and make stuff happen. That is the Wilks formula too.

Wilks’ performances under the former Peterborough United manager have been great to date. In both his post at Doncaster the first time around, and later at Hull, McCann was able to get the most out of Wilks in terms of his goalscoring and attacking outputs.

A noticeable 46 of Wilks’ 65 career goals have come for McCann-managed teams, with him sparkling for the Tigers in their domination of League One when they were led by the current Rovers boss.

Doncaster Rovers would be boosted by ex-Sheffield Wednesday winger

McCann is not afraid to re-sign players who have worked well for him at other clubs, as he has done with Adelakun for example.

Wilks could yet fall into that category once again after a decent season at Rotherham.

He netted one shy of double digits across 41 league appearances, proving an ability to still perform at League One level. And, under the manager who has seen him to the most success, he could be better still.

Now officially released by the Owls in their annual retained list, the rumour mill will no doubt start spinning around Wilks.

A move to Doncaster would be smart for all parties, not just reuniting a pairing that has worked perfectly before in the form of McCann and Wilks, but also keeping him in League One and providing a platform to show his best stuff.

He would be a great addition for Rovers too, as they look to strengthen their promotion-winning team. Wilks would add depth and quality to the Doncaster flanks, with Imps loanee Rob Street going the other way out of the door, and provide competition across the forward line.