Middlesbrough will reportedly let Grant Leadbitter leave and Aitor Karanka is keen on a reunion at Nottingham Forest.
On one hand, the Middlesbrough midfielder would offer plenty of experience in the middle of the park with Jack Colback, Chris Cohen and David Vaughan all on their way out.
On the other, Forest still have Adlene Guedioura, Ben Watson, Ben Osborn and Andrea Bouchalakis, and there are certainly other areas of the squad that need reinforcing more than the centre of midfield.
Then again, Leadbitter is a leader, a proven, standout Championship midfielder and a man who could offer protection to a more solid looking Forest back line set to include Michael Dawson and Tobias Figueiredo next season.
And manager Aitor Karanka knows just what sort of impact Leadbitter can make on and off the pitch. It is only two years, after all, since the former Sunderland ace led Karanka’s Boro side to the Premier League as captain.
As reported by TEAMtalk, Leadbitter is surplus to requirements at the Riverside and Middlesbrough will let the 32-year-old leave on a cut-price deal. He would be cheaper than Colback, who earns around £40,000-a-week at parent club Newcastle United.
This would not be a signing that unifies the fanbase. But it is clear to see what Leadbitter will offer.
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