Reading's transfers appear to have gone a tad global over the last 24 hours. Having recently been linked with the South African-based goalkeeper Anssi Jaakkola, we're now reportedly set to go shopping in Argentina.
That comes from two Argentine journalists, who both report that the Royals are on the verge of sealing a loan deal for Gaston Campi. The 25 year-old currently plays for Racing Club de Avellaneda, based in Buenos Aires.
Atento Racing! Gastón Campi jugará en Reading de Inglaterra a préstamo por un año y con una opción de compra de U$S1.2M. Viaja por la tarde.
— Leo Paradizo (@leoparadizo) July 9, 2016
Attention Racing! Gaston Campi will play for English side Reading on loan for a year, with the option to buy him for $1.2m. Travel by the afternoon.
That tweet was sent out at around midday Argentine time so, if reports are true, Campi should be on his way round about now.
Another Argentine journalist backed that up, saying...
Gastón Campi viajará hoy a Inglaterra para que le hagan la revisión médica en el Reading. Se va con opción de compra de 1.200.000 dólares+
— Nicolás Montalá (@NicoMontala) July 9, 2016
Gaston Campi will travel today to England to have a medical with Reading. It comes with the option of buying for $1.2m.
What do we know about Gaston Campi?
Erm... not much. He's 25 years old, and plays for Racing Club de Avellaneda, who are currently fourth in the Argentine Primera Division. He's played 27 times for them so far, scoring three goals.
According to Transfermarkt, he plays as a defensive midfielder, but can also fill in at centre half.
That said, the transfer itself - rather than the player - brings up some interesting points. First of all, the fact that we're going shopping in Argentina is pretty significant. Evidently, we must have some scouting in operation in South America, otherwise we wouldn't have found him in the first place.
Secondly, the structure of the deal is something I thought we'd moved on from. Indeed, when he spoke personally to Reading fans a week ago, shareholder Sumrith 'Tiger' Thanakarnjanasuth said that he didn't like the number of loans in 2015/16. Therefore, you'd imagine that there is a very real prospect of the Campi deal becoming a permanent one.
What do you make of this deal? Unimpressed with it, or happy we're scouting around the world? Let us know in the comments.