Thankfully for Loyal Royals, the summer is just around the corner. Unfortunately, that means we're going to be subjected to a multitude of rumours about players Reading Football Club are going to sign in order to bounce back from a series of disappointing seasons under many managers.

Today, I bring you not one but two—yes, two—rumours that are ridiculous but understandable.

Rumour 1: Alex McCarthy to return to the Madejski

First up, Reading academy product and former first choice goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is set to ditch the bench at Crystal Palace and return to fight it out with cult hero Ali Al-Habsi and Jonathan Bond (who?) for that coveted number one jersey.

The rumour is from The Sun, a tabloid whose website I refuse to visit, nor touch in physical form, but Talksport have made this point in their Rumour Mill:

Reading are hopeful of bringing goalkeeper Alex McCarthy back to the club this summer – he began the season with new club Crystal Palace as No 1, but has fallen behind Wayne Hennessey and Julian Speroni in the pecking order.

This is ridiculous because Reading already have two goalkeepers fighting it out to be first choice goalkeeper (though admittedly Al-Habsi seems to have won that one comfortably) and we're all pretty convinced Reading Football Club hasn't got much spare cash floating around to just go and sign a third goalkeeper.

It's understandable that this rumour has surfaced because ever since McCarthy was sold to QPR, he's been linked with a return. He'll probably still be linked even after he's retired.

Oh, and if this is true, you'd think it would mean selling or loaning out Bond—hmm... Actually, I quite like that idea.

Believability rating: 5/10

Rumour 2: Juan Villar, a striker/winger from Spain, is to replace Hal Robson-Kanu

Reading aren't happy with exotic signings like Lucas Piazon and Alex Fernandez (who?) stinking out the place, they want an unknown player from the Spanish second tier to try and improve the scent.

A website by the name of HITC went with a story they saw in the Daily Star that Real Valladolid forward Juan Villar is wanted by a whole bunch of Championship clubs. Hold tight… Apparently, Derby County, Brighton & Hove Albion, Queens Park Rangers and Reading all want the almost-28-year-old.

HITC quantify this rumour with the following:

Reading are expected to lose Wales international Hal Robson-Kanu when his contract expires this summer, while Benfica loanee Ola John could return to his parent club.

So there's that.

This rumour is ridiculous because nobody's ever heard of the fella, and if the likes of Derby and Brighton are interested, they'll offer him more money and a better shot at promotion.

Spanish journo Guillem Balague told us a bit about him a while ago, if you're interested.

However, this rumour is believable because it looks like The Royals are indeed going down the 'this player is unknown but he might be decent so we'll give him a shot' route of scouting nowadays and the club signed Fernandez from Spain and John from Portugal in the summer.

I'm inclined to believe this one just because it sort of makes sense, if a rumour originating from the Daily Star can make sense.

Believability rating: 7/10

Tell us what you're thinking in the comments below, or tweet us @TheTilehurstEnd. We don't always bite.