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Nearing new contract, has Leeds United’s collapse cost them Hearts’ Harry Cochrane?

Leeds fans celebrate their team's victory during the Sky Bet Championship match between Leeds United and Derby County at Elland Road on November 29...
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Championship giants Leeds United have been hoping to lure Hearts starlet Harry Cochrane to Elland Road since as far back as November.

Hearts Harry Cochrane during the pre season friendly between Hearts and Newcastle on July 14, 2017 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

When Leeds United were first linked with a £500,000 move for Hearts’ 16-year-old starlet Harry Cochrane back in November, Thomas Christiansen’s side were still in with an excellent chance of a place in the end of season play-offs.

Flash forward five months, however, and a Leeds team now managed by Paul Heckingbottom are up against it to even finish in the top half of the Championship.

So with Cochrane seemingly on the verge of agreeing a new deal with Hearts, it is tempting to wonder whether Leeds’ struggles have made his decision to stay at Tynecastle far easier.

Paul Heckingbottom Leeds manager gestures during the Sky Bet Championship match between Derby County and Leeds United at iPro Stadium on February 21, 2018 in Derby, England.

Cochrane is currently under contract until 2020 but the Scottish Sun reports that Hearts are hoping to add another six months onto his deal to strengthen their hand with arguably the most exciting talent north of the border not short of admirers in England.

And it is understood that an agreement is close for a midfielder who only made his first-team bow in September but has since established himself in Craig Levein’s side.

Craig Levein Director of Football at Hearts looks on prior to the Scottish Cup fifth round match between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian at Tynecastle Stadium on February 12, 2017 in...

It was he who inspired a stunning 4-0 thrashing of Celtic in December, which ended the Hoops’ 70 game unbeaten domestic run, opening the scoring with a sublime goal.

It was not difficult to see why Leeds, a side who have bought plenty of youngsters themselves of late, were keen to lure Cochrane to Elland Road.

But with Leeds falling apart on the pitch, a move to Elland Road would probably have come at the wrong time.