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England Under-21 international Chalobah played 15 times on a loan spell in Berkshire during the latter half of the 2014/15 campaign, registering a goal and an assist while generally impressing the Mad Stad crowd with a wide range of passing and a Premier League-level reading of the game. According to Reading Chronicle sports journalist Paul Carey, the midfielder's move to Reading is close. This follows speculation that the Royals were interested in Chalobah earlier in the month, with our understanding at the time that Chelsea were holding out for a Premier League team to loan their man to.
Told that #readingfc are on the verge of completing a loan move that will see Nathaniel Chalobah return to the club.
— Paul Carey (@PaulCareySport) August 26, 2015
The Chronicle also reveal Brazilian winger Lucas Piazon is a target for the Royals, but that a deal is some way off - as opposed to Chalobah's. Furthermore, it appears we will have to wait until manager Steve Clarke's pre-Brentford press conference (on Thursday) to see if there is real substance to the latest swoop of a youngster at the former defender's old club. Piazon has been on loan at the highest levels in recent years, turning out for Malaga, Vitesse, and Eintracht Frankfurt after moving to the Blues for £5 million.
I'm also told that a loan deal to bring Lucas Piazon to the club from Chelsea u21s is close, though there's still a bit to do. #readingfc
— Paul Carey (@PaulCareySport) August 26, 2015
Piazon is certainly out of the blue. Will be interesting to see what Clarke says tomorrow on that, if anything. #readingfc
— Paul Carey (@PaulCareySport) August 26, 2015
A return for Chalobah? That may not be a surprise and would be welcomed by the many. His failure to break into the Premier League is a surprise for now, but we won't complain and it will be a well-stocked centre-midfield for Clarke if the youngster comes in. As for Piazon, it would be a real surprise and whether the 21-year-old is ready to take a step down to gain serious first-team opportunity remains to be seen. One thing's for sure, he'd be an exciting acquisition to go alongside McCleary, Hurtado, HRK, Fosu and Blackman on the Royals' wings.
What do you make of these potential signings? Comment below.