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First, it was Adam Federici. Then, Alex Pearce. Now, it looks as though the final of the "big three" out of contract players, Jem Karacan, is heading for pastures new.
According to the Sky Sports Transfer Centre, the midfielder has agreed a switch to Turkish giants Galatasaray on a three-year contract. Gala are the most successful club in Turkey, having won the Super Lig 20 times including 3 of the last 4 years. Other rumours swirling around them at the moment include Sandro, Lukas Podolski and Snoop Dogg... but those are all reports to let you discover yourselves!
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(from Sky Sports Transfer Centre)
If true, the move doesn't come as a great shock. Karacan himself has said himself that he wants to feel valued at whichever club he plays next season, whilst Steve Clarke confirmed last week that the club have offered the 26-year-old a new deal, but it involved an element of pay-as-you-play. Of course, we're not privy to the exact details of the contracts but one would assume the Turkish club are offering a better deal than the Royals.
Karacan had been linked with a move to two Premier League new boys but it looks as though he'll be heading to the country of his father's nationality, having also been called up to the Turkish senior squad but not yet won his first cap. And with Champions League football secured for next season in front of a stadium holding over 50,000, it's hard to blame Jem for making the move (if true).
Unfortunately for the midfielder, his injury woes over the past few years have been well documented. A broken ankle and a torn ACL have intermittently halted his career at the Madejski, though in the matches he did play last season, he arguably looked as good as ever. You can understand the club wanting insurance on the "pay-as-you-play" element, especially with the ever-turbulent nature of the finances at Reading. But it will be galling for Royals fans to watch another top player leave the club for nothing.
Naturally Steve Clarke will be lining up replacements and we'll have all the news on any more moves in and out whenever we get them.