The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 plus 2 letter word TRADE IN
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "contribute to deal" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case contribute to deal = trade in.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TRADE IN mean?
TRADE IN noun- Property used as part payment for a new purchase
- A transaction including such payment