Championship rivals linked to out of favour Hull City man

Middlesbrough are the latest club being linked with a move for Hull City striker Mallik Wilks, with the 23-year-old's future increasingly likely to be away from the MKM Stadium. Wilks has not featured for City since the 3-0 win at Peterborough United in February and is unlikely to be involved in the two remaining games of the Championship season at Bristol City and at home to Nottingham Forest.

Wilks, who enjoyed a fine campaign in League One last season scoring 19 goals on the way to City winning promotion under Grant McCann, has struggled to make the step-up this term and has fallen to the bottom of the pecking order under new head coach Shota Arveladze.

The Georgian boss suggested earlier this month that Wilks needed to up his game in training if he was to have any hope of forcing his way above Allahyar, Tom Eaves, Marcus Forss, or Tyler Smith. Wilks is out of contract this summer though the Tigers do have the option to extend it by a further 12 months - one of eight players seeing their deals end in the coming weeks.

Birmingham City are monitoring Wilks' situation with a view to making a move, while Grant McCann is keen on being reunited with Wilks at Peterborough United, and sees the frontman as the ideal man to spearhead Posh's hopes of returning to the Championship after their relegation was confirmed at the weekend, but BBC Radio Humberside claim Boro are also interested in the striker who has managed just three goals in 20 appearances this season.

Boro still have a chance of making the Championship top six this season but must beat Cardiff City at home on Wednesday to have any real hope of closing the five-point gap to Sheffield United in sixth place in their remaining games, ahead of a summer that is expected