Nottingham Forest manager Aitor Karanka is reportedly aiming to raid his former Championship employers to bring Leadbitter to the City Ground.
Aitor Karanka wants to reunite with the player who captained his Middlesbrough side to promotion back in 2016.
According to the Northern Echo, Grant Leadbitter is surplus to requirements at the Riverside under Tony Pulis and is understood to be a target for Karanka’s Nottingham Forest.
And Forest’s hopes looked to have increased when Sunderland started to go all out to sign Reading’s George Evans rather than press ahead with a potential move for the 32-year-old. But do the East Midland giants even need Leadbitter?
Particularly when they have a younger, fresher and quicker version of him in their ranks already.
The Grimsby Telegraph claims that Karanka could loan out Ryan Yates this summer if he signs a replacement, potentially Leadbitter. But Yates is not only a similar player to the former Ipswich talisman, an energetic and hard-working midfielder blessed with impressive distribution. He is also 12 years younger and would offer greater legs and durability.
Yates was superb during a loan spell at Scunthorpe earlier this year and appeared to prove that he has the potential to play at a higher level than League One. And, rather than signing the ageing Leadbitter, perhaps now is the time for Karanka to give him that platform.
On the other hand, Leadbitter’s Championship experience could come in handy with a number of new, foreign signings at the City Ground, meaning he could be an astute addition off the pitch, too.
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