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Hartlepool manager issues update amid links with Leeds United sensation Stuart McKinstry
Hartlepool United manager Paul Hartley has remained coy over the links to Leeds United winger Stuart McKinstry.
Speaking to the Mail, Hartley waxed lyrical over the 19-year-old Leeds player who’s got one year left on his Elland Road deal and there have been contractual issues with the club.
He made his senior debut in the 2021/22 campaign when he came off the bench against Tottenham Hotspur – which was the last time he featured for Marcelo Bielsa’s time and did not get a run in under Jesse Marsch.
Hartley said, “He’s a good player. There’s loads of rumours though, isn’t there?
“We’re trying to get a creative player in.
“I won’t give anything away. We’re linked with a lot of players and as soon as we get a player over the line everybody will be the first to know.”
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Sort it out
The 19-year-old is one of the better players in the Leeds youth setup and there surely is a pathway for him to become a first-team player.
He played the odd game last season and is only going to get better with time so it does make sense to ensure he signs a new deal.
Loaning out a player in the final year of his deal makes no sense as he’ll become a free agent once his loan spell expires.
It’s time for Victor Orta and Jesse Marsch to sit down with the player and see what his qualms are and check if they can arrive at a consensus.
Hopefully, this situation should be resolved in the coming days and we do think that loaning him out is probably the best thing to do.
In other Leeds United news, Jesse Marsch is extremely keen on bringing an ‘Exceptional’ striker to Elland Road this summer and has learnt his transfer valuation.