, Sunderland battle Championship clubs to re-sign midfielder from local rivals

Sunderland battle Championship clubs to re-sign midfielder from local rivals

Sunderland want to bring Grand Leadbitter back to the club, according to TEAMtalk. It’s understood that new Black Cats boss Jack Ross faces competition from some Sky Bet Championship clubs for the midfielder.

The 32-year-old is currently at Middlesbrough, but it is believed he will be free to leave this summer. Leadbitter made 32 appearances at the Stadium of Light last season, but his last game was in late April, and didn’t feature at all in either play-off semi-final versus Aston Villa. The Northern Echo states that Nottingham Forest may move for the player. Aitor Karanka knows the player well from his time in charge of Boro.

Whilst clubs in the second tier want to sign him, perhaps it is Leadbitter’s destiny to finish his career at the Stadium of Light; where it all began. He would most likely be guaranteed regular football under Ross too, who may want his experience to spearhead a push for the Sky Bet League One title.

Mo Besic was on loan with Boro last season, but has returned to Everton, and may not necessarily come back under Pulis. However, there is still Adam Clayton and Jonny Howson who are effectively ahead of Leadbitter in the pecking order at the club right now.

Supposedly, Middlesbrough will allow the player to depart for a ‘nominal fee’, although he is possibly on a fairly big wage with the club. Sunderland therefore could be looking for their local rivals to do them a favour in subsiding a part of his wages for a period of time. Clubs in the Championship should have better financial force to cover this. Sunderland though are under new owners, who will surely make some money available for Ross to bolster his squad. In League One. Leadbitter would certainly provide that.

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