Liam Bridcutt looks set to follow Chris Wood out of the Elland Road exit with Nottingham Forest his likely destination.
All the talk was about Chris Wood on Saturday as Leeds United travelled to the Stadium of Light to face Simon Grayson’s Sunderland.
The talismanic centre-forward, top scorer in the Championship last season with 27 goals, was conspicuous by his absence as the Whites sealed an impressive 2-0 away win, The Mail reporting that he could seal a £15 million move to Burnley by Monday.
However, Wood was not the only Leeds first-teamer absent on Wearside. Liam Bridcutt also failed to make Thomas Christiansen’s 18-man squad, ramping up speculation that a move to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest is beckoning.
The Nottingham Post reported late last week that Mark Warburton’s side had been hopeful of striking a bargain deal for the midfielder, who has only one year remaining on his current deal at Elland Road.
Letting Bridcutt leave would certainly be a bold decision by new manager Christiansen. After all, the 28-year-old was one of the first names on the team-sheet when Garry Monk was in charge last season, captaining the side when fit.
However, with Kalvin Phillips enjoying an excellent start to the season, scoring twice in the opening day victory over Bolton Wanderers, and Polish international Mateusz Klich arriving from FC Twente, Bridcutt has been pushed down the pecking order and, potentially, out the exit door.
His arrival would be well received at Forest, who could do with cover for the ageing yet seemingly evergreen David Vaughan and Chris Cohen.
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