No, Reading FC Won't Be Signing Arsenal Youngster Iwobi On Loan

The January transfer window is open, Nick Blackman is gone and the rumour mill is in full swing. Though what I call 'the rumour mill' is really just newspapers making up rumours that make sense for the sake of clicks.

An example of this comes from the "ever-reputable" Express, who quote the Daily Mail, who 'report' that Brian McDermott is to exploit his Arsenal contacts to bring in youngster Alex Iwobi on loan until the end of the season.

Arsenal forward Alex Iwobi is discussing a proposed loan move to Reading.

Manager Brian McDermott has identified the 19-year-old as a replacement for Nick Blackman who was sold to Derby County on Tuesday in a £2.5m deal.

Iwobi, nephew of former Bolton star Jay-Jay Okocha, can play as a winger or striker and has already been capped by Nigeria.

No quotes, a useful McDermott-Arsenal link and a recently departed striker make for the perfect rumour.

Except McDermott keeps banging this 'identity' drum, already has a good number of attackers on his books and, let's be honest, probably isn't going to go back to the club he just resigned from to loan in a 19-year-old when he's trying to build the team ethic in the squad. And when asked about the reports by GetReading's Charles Watts...

Iwobi links brushed off by McDermott - says he is not looking at loans. #readingfc

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 7, 2016

So thanks, Rumour Mill, but I just don't see it happening.

Stay tuned to The Tilehurst End for more rumours as and when they come. And they will come.