Liam Bridcutt wants to leave Sunderland for good - with Leeds United his preferred destination.
The midfielder has been out-of-favour for a long time at the Stadium of Light, ever since the man who signed him, Gus Poyet, was relieved of his duties.
However, he has been enjoying his football during a recent loan spell with Leeds, and wants to extend his spell there after it came to an end at the weekend.
Bridcutt happy at Elland Road
Speaking to Leeds United's official website, Bridcutt revealed that he and the club are simply "waiting on Sunderland" to seal the deal for a further stay in the Championship.
He said that the parties are "in the middle of sorting it out" and that he is "hoping to extend [the loan] until the end of the season."
Following manager Steve Evans' comments that Bridcutt was "100% sure" he wanted to stay with the team after their draw with Milton Keynes Dons at the weekend, the midfielder has now gone one further and said that he would be "happy for a permanent move" too.
"Leeds want me here," he continued, adding that he believes "it's about time" for him "to move on from Sunderland" and accept "a new challenge."
The one-time Scotland international cited "game time" and his relationship with Evans as two key reasons for him wanting to stay, with him calling the former "the most important thing for [him]."
"The manager has been brilliant with me," Bridcutt said. "He's given me a great opportunity to come here and play."
The 26-year-old believes that you can see he is "happy" in "the way" he is "playing" too, with him "back to [his] normal self," and he is looking to continue "what [he] love[s] doing" by extending his loan, at the very least.
Sunderland looking to recoup seven-figure fee
Bridcutt cost Sunderland all of £2.5 million from Brighton & Hove Albion less than two years ago, and the club are hoping to get some of that back when they move the midfielder on.
Whether that will happen this month seems unlikely, with the Black Cats perhaps having to wait until the summer. However, whilst Leeds look set to win the race for his services this time, there are plenty of other interested parties in the second-tier who will pay for Bridcutt later this year if they don't, according to the Yorkshire Post.
Nonetheless, for now, Sunderland will allow the midfielder to extend his loan at Elland Road, with that his favoured destination despite Reading and Cardiff City also being keen.
The deal could be completed as early as today according to Radio Yorkshire, amongst others.