Jaap Stam's Deadline Day Checklist

It's been a transfer window like no other this summer for Reading Football Club, with 11 new players signing permanent deals as new manager Jaap Stam has made the squad his own.

Three players have also been sold, most notably Oliver Norwood and Aaron Tshibola, with six more being let out on loan.

Yet there's expected to be more even more activity at the Madejski Stadium before next Wednesday's 11pm deadline. Last summer, we sold two players and brought in four loanees in the final week of business.

Although we probably won't see that many deals, here's what I think still needs to be done:

Sign a striker

This is top of my wishlist and I'm sure Jaap Stam sees it as a priority too. None of our current centre forward options particularly stand out, and you can't see any of them being prolific goalscorers this season.

I'm afraid to say that Yann Kermorgant is probably past it despite showing signs of promise against Brighton. On paper, he should be the perfect man for the job in the middle of the front three. He's a tall, strong target man that should be holding the ball up for team-mates, but for some reason it's just not worked for him at Reading.

Deniss Rakels is perhaps the best current option and the player I have the most hope for, but he doesn't seem to be able to play upfront by himself and in fact impressed me out wide against MK Dons. Of course, he picked up an unfortunate injury against the franchise and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, which only increases the importance of signing a new striker.

New signing Joseph Mendes also featured on Tuesday but looked incredibly raw and spurned numerous chances, so I wouldn't be playing him every week either. Personally, I'd like to see Dominic Samuel given a chance when he has fully recovered from injury because I'd love it to work out for him.

However, every team wants a prolific goalscorer and they're especially hard to find and then sign, especially on Reading's budget. For this reason, I expect us to look at players abroad to fit the bill - Heracles' Paul Gladon is reportedly joining a Championship side, although it's said to not be Reading? I also wouldn't be completely against another Matej Vydra type signing - a proven goalscorer from a bottom half Premier League club/top end Championship club that has fallen out of favour so may be available on loan. Jordan Rhodes springs to mind, but that seems very, very unlikely.

Keep key players

The frustrating thing about the transfer window staying open for the first few games of the season is that if players from 'smaller clubs' such as Reading impress, then they will be quickly snapped up by bigger clubs.

Two key Royals who have been linked with moves away are Chris Gunter and Danny Williams. Stam has spoken of his frustration of being helpless in selling Norwood and Tshibola, but hopefully he can convince this duo of sticking around - they are two of the most experienced faces in the squad.

Reports that the club actually want to sell Gunter baffle me, as it would leave a raw and inexperienced Tennai Watson as the only right-back in the squad despite how impressive the youngster has been this season. Undoubtedly a replacement for Gunter would need to be signed, and it's unlikely you'll find as reliable and experienced a right-back for £1 million (the Welshman's release clause).

Meanwhile, Williams may only have a year left on his contract but for me is one the best players at the club. You wouldn't naturally think the US international and his driving runs would fit into the Dutch system, but he has seemed rejuvenated under Stam and put in some good performances so far this season.

Loan out youngsters

It doesn't look as though many of the younger players will get much game time at least until January, so it might be for the best that Stam sends a couple out on loan.

Despite an impressive pre-season, Jack Stacey doesn't seem to be anywhere near the first team, so I expect we'll see him depart. Tarique Fosu was apparently going to be in the squad for the MK Dons game before injury ruled him out, but along with Stacey he wasn't given a squad number for the new season so is likely to also go out on loan.

Rob Dickie has today been loaned to Cheltenham who he helped get promoted last season, whilst spells away for fellow defenders Shane Griffin, Dominic Hyam, Zak Jules and Niall Keown would also be beneficial.

Now for my controversial choices. Firstly, I'd like to see Jake Cooper go out on loan. The 21 year old has never spent time away from Reading, and was thrown straight into the Championship two years ago. It is clear that Jaap Stam doesn't fancy him, so it is better for his development to go out on loan rather than sit on the bench. He might make the mistakes he has received criticism for at this level, but if he can get them out of the way and learn from them, there is undoubtedly a future for Cooper at Reading.

Secondly, Tennai Watson. Hear me out. Yes, he has earned praise for his performances so far, but he is yet to face a winger who really tests him. If he was sent out on loan for a full season and played regularly at League One level, he would be much better prepared to become Reading's first choice right-back if Chris Gunter was to leave next summer.

Agree with Olly's suggestions? What do you think Jaap Stam needs to do before transfer deadline day? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.