OPINION
Nottingham Forest are reportedly interested in exploiting Liam Bridcutt’s current contract situation at Leeds by luring the midfielder to the County Ground this summer.
The Nottingham Post claim Mark Warburton is looking to add another midfielder to his squad and has turned his attention to 28-year-old Bridcutt, who captained the Yorkshire giants last season.
It is said that Forest are looking to secure a cut-price deal for the Chelsea youth player, with less than 12 months remaining on Bridcutt’s current Elland Road contract.
Leeds have brought in midfielders Mateusz Klich and Vurnon Anita this summer, pushing Bridcutt down the pecking order behind the likes of Eunan O’Kane, Kalvin Phillips, Ronaldo Vieira and the two new signings.
The Whites have seen first-team stars O’Kane, Liam Cooper, Gaetano Berardi, Phillips and Tyler Denton all put pen to paper on new contracts, seemingly overlooking a new deal for Bridcutt which could suggest his future is in doubt.
This Is Futbol examines whether selling Bridcutt is a good deal for the club, and if the transfer of the former Sunderland and Brighton ace is at all possible.
Good move for Leeds?
Although manager Thomas Christiansen has reiterated that Bridcutt still has plenty to offer Leeds ahead of the 2017-18 season, selling the combative midfielder now is in the best interests of the club.
The Whites would be forced to wave goodbye to Bridcutt on a free transfer next summer, with a contract unlikely to be offered to the midfielder before then.
Securing a transfer fee for the midfielder now would prove beneficial and could see Christiansen re-enter the transfer market for a new addition, with a centre-back and a striker needed at Elland Road.
However, Leeds must drive a hard bargain for an experienced Championship midfielder that still has plenty to offer. Forest will be looking to secure a cut-price deal due to his contract situation, but Leeds must not sell for less than £1.5million. If they get such an offer, then it is a good move.
This Is Futbol rating: 8/10.
Likely to happen?
Bridcutt has failed to feature in all three of Leeds opening Championship encounters so far this season, with Christiansen instead choosing Phillips and O’Kane as his midfielders in a 4-2-3-1 system.
The Scotland international will be fully aware that he is unlikely to be given much of a chance for the rest of the season, if he remains at Elland Road.
Leeds will prefer to cash in now, and Nottingham Forest look keen to complete a deal as they want another midfielder to help them avoid a relegation battle that almost saw them relegated last season.
With all parties keen to secure a deal, it seems likely that Bridcutt will be sold before the end of the summer transfer window.
This Is Futbol rating: 9/10.