The odd ones out: Who might make way in the Adkins reshuffle

Packing Their Bags.....

Adam Federici

It makes sense to start with the man wearing the number 1 shirt and Adam Federici is probably one of the players most likely to leave the club following Alex McCarthy's spectacular rise over the past 12 months.

While Federici is a very talented keeper, he doesn't quite have the long-term potential that McCarthy has and as a formerly established number one it's unlikely that the Australian will be happy sitting on the bench waiting for an injury to the former England U21 stopper. More than just being a case of professional pride, Federici knows that his chances of going to Brazil with Australia this summer will be severely impacted if he's spent the season sitting on the bench and that could well force the Australian into moving to a destination that maybe he wouldn't have considered this time last year.

The one stumbling block to any Federici move might be his wage demands, with the Aussie reportedly one of the top earners at the club following the new deal he signed last summer, which he penned just weeks after being widely recognised as one of the best keepers in the Championship.

Sadly his reputation took quite a beating by a string of high profile errors in the opening three games last season and while he recovered to put in a decent string of games in McCarthy's absence, it's unlikely Premier League clubs will come knocking for Fedders, at least as a number 1.

A loan move or a cut price sale abroad seems more likely at this stage, with Reading probably paying a large chunk of his wages.

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Pavel Pogrebnyak

Oh Pog... I really want you to do well and as I wrote a few weeks ago I still think he could be a real force in this division given a chance. Sadly it seems that either Adkins or Pogrebnyak have decided that maybe it's time for the two sides to part and while the transfer window remains open and his future uncertain, it makes sense to only use him sparingly.

Russia would seem his most likely destination and with Reading owner Anton Zingarevich confirming that Pogrebnyak has a clause that allows the striker to leave the club, it's just a case of a club stumping up the money to meet the Russian's wage demands.

The fact that he's still here doesn't exactly scream that he's got plenty of suitors but as the domestic leagues around the world progress, injuries are inevitable and chances are someone will take a low-cost punt on a striker that's played in the top divisions in Russia, Germany and England.

If not, then it could be a blessing in disguise as a motivated and committed Pog (until Christmas anyway) could be the striker that we've been crying out for..... or he'll be a very expensive bench warmer.

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An Uncertain Future

Adrian Mariappa

I can't say I'd expected to be listing Mariappa here a few weeks ago but for whatever reason the former Watford captain suddenly finds himself fourth choice at the football club behind Alex Pearce, Sean Morrison and Kaspars Gorkss.... I'm surprised Mariappa hasn't simply walked into Adkins office and shown him a tape from The Premier League Years 2012/13 because if the manager honestly feels that Gorkss is a better long-term bet for a top division side than Mariappa then I can only surmise that Mariappa's got realllllly bad this summer and Gorkss has improved ten-fold.

The more likely answer to this question would be that Adkins feels that Mariappa isn't quite his ideal long-term fit and that right now his wages can be better spent elsewhere, leaving Gorkss to fulfil the backup role at Championship level where he's still a capable player.

Mariappa didn't dent his wider reputation last season and with a couple of years left on his deal he remains possibly our most saleable asset. With the Premier League now underway it's easy to see a team or two panic buying defenders at the deadline after shaky starts and Mariappa looks an ideal candidate for such a move.

I'm not suggesting we sell for the sake of it , or that he's a bad player but if Mariappa is one of the sacrifices we need to make to get in another striker then I'd be OK with it.

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Mikele Leigertwood

In many ways, Ledge's injury may well have done him a favour because it's given Reading fans a decent enough time to try and forget his woeful performances last season and remember that at Championship level he's actually a good player.

While he may not be able to spray the ball around like Guthrie or Williams, Leigertwood can provide a useful bit of bite in the midfield and as pitches get heavy and legs get tired, he could well prove a very useful asset in our promotion push. With that being said, will Leigertwood be happy being a squad player and does Adkins want to keep Leigertwood around instead of adding another more dynamic player with future Premier League potential?

With the former QPR man only just starting to train again following injury it's hard to see another team buying him on a permanent basis. I could see a team taking him on a short-term loan but Reading are unlikely to want to sell or loan to a rival if they can possibly help it.

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Shaun Cummings

You have to feel a bit sorry for Cummings, who time and time again has fought his way back into the Reading team after spending months in the wilderness. A player who was once described by one noted Reading pundit as 'the worst Reading player he's seen', found himself playing a fair number of Premier League games last season but now seems to have fallen well behind Stephen Kelly and Chris Gunter in the pecking order.

Cummings signed a new deal just last season so there's no pressure on Reading to sell and with Wayne Bridge the only recognised left-back on the books, any injury to him would certainly see the former Chelsea youngster back in the mix.

Again I think a loan is likely but if Reading got a decent six-figure bid from a Championship side or leading League 1 team, I think they'd have to consider it.

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Premier League targets

Alex McCarthy

Right now I feel pretty confident that Reading will hold onto McCarthy but should a Premier League side lose their number one or one of the big managers decide that the former Brentford loanee is the man for the long-term then it's still possible we'll see Alex leave the Madejski this transfer window.

Fortunately we're under no pressure to sell and with McCarthy now the established number 1 at the club it would take either a stupidly high bid or a real desire from the player to go, for a move to take place.

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Adam Le Fondre

With the stupidly high amounts of money being spent on foreign striking talent by teams such as Norwich, Cardiff and Southampton I'm slightly surprised that nobody has put in a speculative bid in for Alfie, who bagged 12 times for a relegated side last season.

Like McCarthy, Reading are under no pressure to sell but with Alfie turning 27 later this year and still not an automatic selection under Nigel Adkins, could the player be tempted to leave if a club comes in on deadline day?

2 goals from 2 starts this season will have kept Le Fondre on the radar and with teams like Hull and Sunderland struggling for goalscorers, again you can see panic bids going in before September 2nd

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Loan Bait

Hope Akpan

I can't imagine Reading will be in any hurry to sell Akpan but with Williams, Guthrie and Karacan all looking impressive so far, Akpan might need to head out on loan to pick up more regular gametime. With only around 50 league games under his belt, he's still very much in need of regular match practice and a short-term loan deal away from the club might well be wise, especially if Leigertwood regains fitness.

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Most of the U21 side

While Nigel Adkins has stressed that our youth team prospects are a big part of his plans it's almost certain that the vast majority will have to make do with the odd cup game, bench spot or U21 Premier League game. With that in mind I'd certainly expect a good number of players like Dominic Samuel, Jordan Obita, Gozie Ugwu, Jake Taylor and co to leave on loan spells this season.

Whether any of those loans are season-long or just short-term will probably depend on the movement in and around this window. For instance Samuel might well get more of a look in here if we don't add a striker, likewise with Ugwu.

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So that's a quick overview of how we see it but who do you think will be leaving the club during this window? Let us know below.