OPINION
Leeds United target Jake Hastie is going from strength to strength with Motherwell, netting his fifth goal in his last six appearances across all competitions on Sunday in the 2-1 win against Hearts.
It is no great shock to see that Leeds are in the hunt to sign the 19-year-old winger, with the Daily Record reporting earlier in February that West Brom and Norwich have also been scouting him.
Hastie’s current contract expires at the end of the season and it is understood that he would be available for a minimal compensation fee in the summer if he does leave Fir Park.
However the Scotland youth international has now confirmed that he could sign a new deal in March, which would be terrible news for Leeds.
“My agent is still in talks, so hopefully [I’ll sign] in the next couple of weeks,” he said, as quoted by the Glasgow Evening Times.
“I definitely want to stay here. I’m playing football and that’s the main thing.”
Hastie is hardly going to come out and say that he wants to quit Motherwell, so his comment about staying put at Fir Park can be taken with a pinch of salt, but the fact that he is expecting to pen a new deal should be worrying for the entire Leeds fanbase.
The Evening Times reports that the teenager’s value is rising with each appearance he makes, which is understandable when he seems to be scoring every time he takes to the pitch.
Since returning to Motherwell in January after a loan spell with Alloa, Hastie has hit the back of the net five times in six total appearances, with his goals against St Mirren and Hearts attracting huge praise.
And if he continues this form, and signs a new contract, Leeds are going to find it harder to sign the dazzling attacker, who may come with a hefty price-tag instead of the minimal compensation fee that is currently expected.
It would be a real shame for the Whites to miss out on such an electric young winger who is bound to be Premier League quality in the future.
Marcelo Bielsa and Victor Orta need to try and make their interest known as soon as possible to maybe hope that Hastie does not put pen to paper with the Steelmen.