Motherwell’s Scottish Premiership winger Jake Hastie has Championship and League One interest from Leeds United and Sunderland.
Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson has suggested that the club cannot afford to make a bigger contract offer to coveted winger Jake Hastie, as reported by Herald Scotland.
The 19-year-old winger returned to Fir Park from a loan spell at Alloa Athletic in January and has made an massive impact, scoring his fifth goal in six games during the 2-1 win against Hearts at the weekend.
Hastie appears to have caught the eye of a number of clubs from south of the border with the Daily Record claiming that Leeds United and Sunderland scouted him during the recent Scottish Premiership clash with St Mirren, during which Hastie scored a thunderous 25 yard strike.
Robinson has made it clear that he wants the teenager to commit his future to Motherwell with his contract expiring in the summer. But it seems that he may be fighting a losing battle.
“We haven’t got any more money to offer Jake,” he said.
“It is as simple as that and we will offer him what we can.
“I will tell every parent that you have to play football and he has a very good coaching staff who will try and develop him, and this is the best place for him to develop. I will stand in front of any parent now and tell them that.
“A few hundred pounds now will not make a big difference to his life. He could be a very good player if he keeps grounded and improving.”
Speaking to the Scottish Sun, Robinson warned Hastie last week that a move to England could derail his development and leave him fighting for minutes in the reserves rather than proving himself in the professional game.
Both Leeds and Sunderland, however, have managers in Marcelo Bielsa and Jack Ross who have build their reputation upon a willingness to give youth a chance.
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