Leeds open to Bridcutt return, but Larsson link ‘wide of mark’

Liam Bridcutt & Seb Larsson: Both linked with Leeds

Liam Bridcutt & Seb Larsson: Both linked with Leeds

New Leeds boss Garry Monk is open to the possibility of bringing Liam Bridcutt back to the club – but the Whites reportedly have no interest in his Sunderland team-mate Sebastian Larsson.

The Whites have maintained an interest in Bridcutt after he spent the best part of the 2015/16 season on loan with the Yorkshiremen and the club are weighing up the cost of a permanent deal before the start of next season.

Leeds were hopeful of negotiating a free transfer for the 26-year-old, who earns in the region of £26,000 a week, but Sunderland want to recoup a fee for a player who cost them £2.5million in January 2014.

The former Chelsea trainee was one of three signings made by former Leeds head coach Steve Evans and his influential loan at Elland Road has not gone unnoticed by new boss Monk, according to reports in the Yorkshire Evening Post.

Liam Bridcutt: In talks over Leeds loan extension

Bridcutt made 27 appearances for Leeds after arriving in November, and after the club renewed his loan until the end of the season in January, Evans had planned to include Bridcutt on his list of summer transfer targets.

Evans, however, parted company with Leeds last month and was replaced by Monk, but United are continuing to look at the option of bringing Bridcutt back on a full-time basis.

Speaking shortly before the end of the 2015-16 season, Bridcutt said: “For me, yes I’d like to stay at Leeds if the circumstances are right.

“But I do want to play in the Premier League. I’ve been at that level before. Every club I’m at, I want to be aiming high and I want the club to aim high.

“If Leeds are willing to do that in the summer then I’d be happy to stay.”

Sunderland manager Sam Allardyce insisted last month that he wanted his surplus players to leave as quickly as possible, saying: “We’ll address the situation as part of the big summer turnaround.

“We’ll try to get them back out on loan again at the earliest opportunity, if we can’t move them on permanently.”

The Whites have also been linked with Bridcutt’s Stadium of Light team-mate Larsson, who is also expected to leave Wearside this summer, but sources in the North-East suggest Leeds have expressed no interest in the player, who is currently on Euro 2016 duty with Sweden.