The 31-year-old looks to be on his way out of Middlesbrough four years after Nottingham Forest attempted to prise him away.
Four years is a long time to wait to seal a transfer. Even Paul Pogba’s torturous return to Manchester United was wrapped up within the summer.
However, with Grant Leadbitter’s time at Middlesbrough seemingly coming to an end, could Nottingham Forest finally wrap up a deal for one of the most consistent, reliable Championship players of recent seasons?
The Gazette reported in the summer of 2013 that Forest were so determined to sign the locally-born midfielder that they doubled their initial offer to £800,000 – only to be rejected by a Middlesbrough side desperate to retain their influential captain.
Understandably so. Leadbitter’s reliable performances in central midfield meant he was the first name on Tony Mowbray’s team sheet though fast forward to the present day and the now-31-year-old has played just three times in the Premier League after spending so long attempting to drag Middlesbrough out of the second tier.
A long-term injury has not helped of course but, after falling down the pecking order and with his contract expiring in June, it appears unlikely that he will remain at the Riverside beyond the end of the season.
And a Forest side light on quality or consistency in central midfield could still benefit immensely from his addition, for almost a million less than they could have signed him for all the way back in 2013.
Chris Cohen’s future is up in the air (below), Matty Cash still has improvements to make and Aaron Tshibola is only on loan until the summer, meaning Leadbitter’s leadership and experience could galvanise the squad and, if there is one attribute Forest are crying out for, it is consistency.
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