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Leeds United contract talks at impasse for Stuart McKinstry
Contract talks between Leeds United and promising midfielder Stuart McKinstry have come grinding to a halt, according to the Northern Echo.
The 19-year-old had been in talks to join League Two side Hartlepool United on loan for the 2022-23 season but those negotiations have also been stopped in their tracks as his Elland Road future remains in doubt.
The Scottish youth international has just 12 months left on his current deal with the Whites who are happy to see him leave on loan if they can agree to an extension to his stay in Yorkshire.
Hartlepool may consider making a move to sign McKinstry on a permanent basis this summer but the financial ramifications of such a move would be a problem in the fourth tier.
The Scot has played for the Leeds United first-team previously in the League Cup but he has not made his mark on the Premier League yet although he could get the chance to prove himself to Jesse Marsch in pre-season.
Compromise
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As will be the case with every contract negotiation in world football, there has to be some degree of compromise from both the club and the player to get a deal to work.
Having played so rarely for the senior side, McKinstry isn’t going to be asking for a wage packet to rival the biggest earners at Elland Road but he will want to be among the highest-paid players in the Under-23s side.
And rightly so too having been a regular for Mark Jackson’s side last season as they enjoyed a very good season against the country’s best academies.
A loan move away is exactly what he needs right now so we may as well allow him to leave regardless of his contract situation here because we can always re-enter negotiations once the season is done and dusted.
In a summer where we have a lot to do within the senior team, we can afford to just wait with a youngster like McKinstry and if he wants to commit to the club, then he can come and ask himself.
In other Leeds United news, Victor Orta is ready to make a sizeable bid for this central midfielder but he needs to wait for one thing to happen first.