Middlesbrough are reported to be close to agreeing terms for next season with out-of-contract Blues midfielder Grant Leadbitter. Players whose deals are up in the summer are able to talk to other clubs about new contracts from January.
The £2.65 million summer of 2009 signing from Sunderland turned down a Town offer early in the season, terms which were reportedly worth around a third of his current £15,000-a-week contract.
Boro are said to have bettered that deal, while a move to Teesside may appeal to the Chester-le-Street-born player.
Coincidentally, the 26-year-old missed a penalty and scored a stunning goal in the 1-1 draw between the Blues and Middlesbrough at Portman Road on Tuesday.
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