Grant Leadbitter will be sold by Middlesbrough and reportedly Sunderland want him back, although Nottingham Forest could offer a Championship lifeline.
Nine years after he left Sunderland for Ipswich Town, Grant Leadbitter has been lined up for an emotional return to the Stadium of Light.
According to TEAMtalk, Leadbitter is surpluss to requirements at Middlesbrough and will be allowed to leave this summer for a minimal fee. It is understood that a number of Championship clubs are keen to take the 32-year-old from the Riverside but Sunderland are hoping he will be tempted to return to the club where he started his career.
The Black Cats have suffered successive relegations in the last two seasons and will begin 2018/19 in League One. So it remains to be seen whether Leadbitter would be willing to drop down a division.
If not, Nottingham Forest would allegedly be willing to offer him a new home.
Leadbitter was captain of the Middlesbrough side that won promotion to the Premier League under Karanka back in 2016.
And, with Jack Colback’s loan spell from Newcastle coming to an end and David Vaughan and Chris Cohen also departing, the former England U21 ace would provide some added experience in midfield.
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