Banks rips up new Utd deal

DUNDEE United look set to lose young midfielder Scott Banks after failing to convince the 18-yearold to sign a new deal at Tannadice.

Tele Sport understands Banks was looking for United to make him the second-highest earner at the club in order for him to consider penning a contract extension.

These were not demands the Tangerines were willing to meet and Banks has now chosen to let his deal run down until the end of the season.

English Premier League club Crystal Palace have been heavily linked with the Terrors’ academy graduate and a move may yet come in January.

United would be due £200,000-plus in compensation for the kid, who has made only four appearances for the club.

United boss Robbie Neilson, however, feels he would’ve been better advised signing a “really good contract” than heading down south.

“We offered him a really good contract,” he said.

“His agent has decided it wasn’t for him so we’re of the understanding now that he’ll just look to run the contract down which is disappointing.

“From our perspective we’re just disappointed that the boy’s been here a long time, we’ve given him a lot of backing and a lot of funds ploughed into him as well.

“We get him i nto the first team, hope to take the next step and they decide it’s not for them.

“I think young players need stability, they need to learn the game and need to play at a place where they’re going to get first-team football.

“If they decide they want to go somewhere else they’ll maybe not get the first-team opportunities as early as they would get here. They make that decision and we just have to move on from it.”

Scott Banks