Why do you need a reentry permit? Are you planning to be away for more than 6 months?
What job back home pays more than a similar job in the US (otherwise why keeping it?)
Yiu can apply, but I'd rather have a GC in hand before leaving the US for a long time. If GC gets lost in the mail etc while you're outside the US, it will add more headache as you'll have to file I-90 and wait even more.
Also, what do you mean by middle of the year? It's pretty much end of 2024 right now.