Reading FC Transfer Rumours - 25th January

January has been an interesting month for the royals we’ve had one draw, a close one nil win and exited the FA cup at the first time of asking all before our demolition of Bolton over the weekend. We’ve had rumours galore about our supposedly "imminent" takeover bid and mixed messages in terms of transfers. Yet the one area we’ve had a particularly boring month for so far is actual bids. Yes there is still almost two weeks of January left and the hype of deadline day is yet to arrive but our position in terms of ownership has made concrete transfer bids barren bar one. Adkins has out rightly stated that our aim for this window is a centre back and left back and we have tried with one bid, apart from that we don’t know of any others. Anyway without further ado here is a rundown of the Reading FC transfer goings so far…

Outgoings

Chris Baird

As of January 21st Chris Baird has officially finished his four month loan deal with the Royals and is now out of contract. Baird has been out for a good few weeks through injury now but it is still a bit of a blow to see him go especially as it means we have very little cover for our holding midfielders, he was solid if unspectacular but still going to be missed.

Adam Le Fondre

Having come out at the beginning of the month and stating that he’d readily accept a move away Adam Le Fondre’s position at Reading still remains a bit uncertain, even after his superb hat-trick at the weekend. It’s not a forgone conclusion by any means there are rumours, rumours being the important word, that clubs including Aston Villa and Leeds are vying to make a move for him. In terms of whether he stays or goes and his importance to the team well you’d need a lot more than a transfer rumours article to ask that. Either way, the man is certainly one of interest and the next few weeks could be very important for both him and Reading.

Billy Sharp

Along with Baird, Sharp is another man who has seen his short term loan come to an end however; Adkins is apparently set in trying to call the Southampton man back as he is currently seen as surplus to requirements but news in last few days means that will not be possible as Sharp is back at loan to Doncaster.

Goalkeepers

There was a story earlier in the month that reports that Adkins has told the club that we will keep at least one of our keepers, between Alex McCarthy and Adam Federici. Reading are bound to have some interest with regards to McCarthy and this story could mean we’ve had talks or it may just be fan reassurance either way it’s another case of waiting to see what happens, finger crossed we keep McCarthy.

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Incoming

Jack Hobbs

Hobbs is a defender who was on loan to Nottingham Forest from Hull City. Reading had submitted a bid for him but news coming out in the last week all but confirms that Forest have sealed a deal with Hull for the man who played under Adkins at Scunthorpe. It’s our only publically acknowledged bid so far this window but at least it give us some hope that even if our takeover isn’t completed Adkins could still have funds available to him.

Lewis Grabban

Again there were rumours that Adkins was interested in the Bournemouth striker however; this deal is also dead in the water as he has reportedly signed a new deal with Bournemouth this week. Still much like Hobbs at least it is something!

Abdisalam Ibrahim

It has been a pretty barren month even in terms of rumours at Reading FC but apparently we’ve been monitoring the Man City Midfielder since December. There has not been much news on this for a while now but you never know!

Ben Watson

The Wigan midfielder who scored the winning goal in the FA Cup against City last year has reportedly been delaying contract talks with Wigan. He has been asked to commit his future but as of yet hasn’t. Apparently both Reading and QPR are linked with former Crystal Palace man.

Miiko Albornoz

This Malmo fullback, who plays for the Sweden under-21’s, has been described as very versatile and was wanted by Martin Jol’s Fulham in the summer but having blown his budget he couldn’t reach the 2.5m asking price . Apparently we are ready to swoop in with a cut down 1m deal. Would be a good signing if completed and would provide us with a more long term prospect at left back but this hasn’t been reported again since late December so who knows?

In terms of transfers it all been a bit dead because of the takeover and while this could be resolved soon we are getting very mixed messages on whether or not we can sign people. Already this month Adkins has come out and said that funds will be made available, then that we can only buy after the takeover and more recently that it is likely we won’t make any singings. You’d have thought they would have learnt their lessons from August in terms of promises but apparently not. It’s now just a case of seeing what happens. Last window we bought early on maybe this time it’s the reverse. The waiting game continues.