Nottingham Forest have been installed the strong favourites to sign Middlesbrough midfielder Adam Clayton, according to the latest bookmakers’ odds.
Sky Bet priced the Championship big hitters at 2/5 on Thursday afternoon to land the 29-year-old before the start of February.
Forest have leapfrogged previous favourites Leeds (now 12/1) in the betting race, with other second-tier clubs Aston Villa, Cardiff City (both 25/1) and Sheffield United (33/1) now some way in the distance.
The odds on Clayton joining Forest have tumbled during the day, after the move was priced by Bet Victor at 4/1 earlier on Thursday, the same price given to his former club Leeds.
However, Leeds are on the verge of signing Clayton’s Middlesbrough midfield team-mate Adam Forshaw after the Gazette reported that he is undergoing a medical with the west Yorkshire club.
Manchester City academy product Clayton was on the books at Elland Road between 2010-12, making 50 appearances, during which he scored six goals, before joining Huddersfield.
The midfielder has played 14 times in all competitions for Boro this season, but has figured just once in the Championship since mid-October when he played in all 90 minutes of a 3-0 defeat to Derby.
OPINION
It will be seen as quite a coup for Forest if they can sign Clayton, who has extensive Championship experience, was a key member of Aitor Karanka’s promotion-winning side of two years ago and was a regular for Boro during their Premier League campaign as he demonstrated the calibre that once had him tipped for full England honours. It has been reported that the north-east club want to make a profit on Clayton, who they bought for £1.5million, even though he is only on the fringes of Tony Pulis’ side. Even at that price, it would be a smart deal for the 15th-placed outfit.