Sunderland should do everything they can to bring former midfielder Grant Leadbitter back to Wearside.

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Sunderland manager Jack Ross has brought in some impressive signings this summer, but just needs a few more players to complete his squad for the League One campaign.

Sunderland have had an impressive summer transfer window ahead of their crucial League One campaign next term, with a number of exciting signings having arrived on Wearside, including Jerome Sinclair and Dylan McGeouch.

The Black Cats still need one or two additions to make sure their campaign runs as smoothly as possible and to ensure they have the best chance of promotion back to the second division.

And former Black Cats midfielder and Sunderland fan since birth Grant Leadbitter should be the player Sunderland should pursue heavily as the summer transfer window comes to a close.

The 32-year-old made 111 appearances on Wearside and featured in Sunderland’s Championship winning season over a decade ago, but joined Ipswich Town in 2009 and then his current club Middlesbrough, where he has made 210 appearances.

Not only is Leadbitter a football league veteran, but he also scores a lot of goals from his midfield position. Having scored over 50 goals with his last three clubs.

And the move back to Wearside wouldn’t just be a wise move on a footballing level, but also an emotional one too, with the player having had family ties to the club in previous years and even buried his late fathers ashes in the Stadium of Light.

Leadbitter has previously been linked with Sunderland earlier this summer, but talks didn’t progress any further. However, a late move for the Championship star would certainly make sense for Sunderland.

The player may well be in the latter stages of his career, but that isn’t to say he wouldn’t be effective in the third tier, especially given the amount of games Sunderland will need to play.

However, Jack Ross will need to act fast if he does want to sign Leadbitter, with the transfer window set to slam shut in just over one week, a couple of days after the start of the League One season.