Dundee United boss Robbie Neilson has said he is intrigued to see if Scott Banks plays first-team football anywhere else after he said the teenager turned down a new Tannadice deal.
United’s young midfielder has been long reported as a target for Crystal Palace, with the Premier League club reportedly seeing a six figure bid during the summer booted out (Evening Telegraph).
Neilson has expressed his frustration over this new development though after the Tayside club offered Banks favorable terms according to the Arabs boss.
He told the Scottish Sun: “We have offered him a really good contract but they have decided it’s not for him. So the indication we’ve had is that they’ll run the contract down, which is disappointing.
“That’s how football works these days I’m afraid so the opportunity now goes to the players who want to be here.“He is someone we felt we could help get to the next stage. Young players need stability and somewhere to play first-team football. We wanted to give him a platform.
“Will we get training compensation for him? Yes, I think that’s the way it will work. Time will tell whether has been given good advice or bad advice. All I can say is that he had the opportunity here to play first-team football and we’ll see if he gets that somewhere else.”
Banks takes further steps to the Dundee United exit
This development certainly opens the door for any Banks move to Selhurst Park, should the Eagles still be interested of course.
The timing of all this is a little strange though. Banks has played just four times this season and we’re only in November. Neilson may choose not to field him further if the youngster isn’t part of Dundee United’s future.
Banks hasn’t been seen in a matchday squad since September and now it’ll be interesting to see if he features again. They could even try to cash in when January rolls around, instead of waiting for a compensation fee.
Regardless, it seems as if the reported Palace target will be making his move south sometime soon.