When Garry Monk chose to walk away from Leeds United, citing a lack of marriage of his views to those of the club, a division between him and the fans was formed. This could worsen, based on a report in the Sun, with Monk said to be ready to raid the club.
Monk is not said to be coming in for any of the ‘big names’ like defender Pontus Jansson, striker and goal scorer Chris Wood, or even midfield starlet Ronaldo Vieira, However, it is another midfielder that Monk has his eyes firmly fixed on according to Alan Nixon – club captain Liam Bridcutt.
In a single strapline to his article, which focuses on the transfer wants of Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe, Nixon says of a Monk/Bridcutt link that “He [Monk] is also plotting a raid for Leeds midfielder Liam Bridcutt.”
Bridcutt’s arrival at Elland Road on a permanent deal last summer was quite a drawn-out affair with hardly a hint of secrecy about it. Both social media normal media channels were awash with news that he was transferring permanently from Sunderland after a successful loan spell at Elland Road under Monk’s predecessor Steve Evans.
When Leeds United released their squad numbers ahead of the 2016/17 season, there was one shirt left unfilled – the #26 shirt. This was the shirt worn by Bridcutt during his time on loan in LS11, and it transpired it was to be the shirt he would wear upon announcement of his permanent transfer to Leeds.
According to the Sky Sports article (linked above), 28-year-old Scotland international Bridcutt signed a two-year deal at Elland Road, the final year of which he will be entering in the coming season.
Leeds United club captain Bridcutt made 25 appearances last season for the Whites, missing a 13-match stretch of games between mid-September and early December due to injury, 25 appearances that led to two assists.
Leeds United are strong in midfield, with the likes of Ronaldo Vieira, Eunan O’Kane, Kalvin Phillips and Liam Bridcutt himself battling for the usual two central positions. This plethora of options may allow Leeds United to entertain interest in Bridcutt from Middlesbrough and Garry Monk.
