The Story Of Reading FC's Transfer Window

In many ways, it is a blessing that the transfer window has slammed shut as the rumours and worry about losing players can finally end. Well, until around the start of December at least.

But there has been plenty of activity at the Madejski Stadium this summer, with 11 players signing for the club, three leaving and nine departing on loan.

The New Signings

Before the window officially opened on July 1st, Danzell Gravenberch and Joey van den Berg signed from FC Dordrecht and SC Heerenveen respectively, the former signed by Brian McDermott.

Joseph Mendes was next through the door from Le Harve, whilst new boss Jaap Stam surprised many people by bringing in Finnish goalkeeper Anssi Jaakola from Ajax Cape Town, despite already having two senior shot stoppers at the club.

The first recognisable name to sign for the Royals was John Swift, leaving his boyhood club Chelsea to link up with Reading on their pre-season tour of Holland. Winger Roy Beerens signed two days later to become summer signing number six from Hertha Berlin.

We then had to wait nearly two weeks for another transfer, as on the day of the final friendly against Bournemouth, promising youngster Yakou Meite was snapped up from PSG. Another winger arrived a week later the day before the opening game of the season, Callum Harriott switched Charlton for Berkshire.

Reading signed their first ever Liechtensteiner as Sandro Wieser moved from FC Thun, whilst after shaky defensive performances in the first few games, Liam Moore and Tyler Blackett were brought in to sure up the back line. The former's move from Leicester produced one of the longest transfer sagas the club has ever been involved in.

Departures

We waved goodbye to Anton Ferdinand, Simon Cox and Hal Robson-Kanu, who were released at the end of their contracts. Ferdinand and Cox have both since pitched up at Southend United, whilst HRK waited until deadline day to decide that West Brom would be his next destination.

Big things were expected of Rowan Liburd after impressive performances for the Under 21s last season, but he was sold to League Two Stevenage with the window just four days old.

The two major departures in the window concerned the Royals midfield. Aaron Tshibola's stock was rising massively, and Aston Villa took him to the Midlands for around £5 million in July. Then three days before the start of the season, the club suffered another blow as Oliver Norwood joined Brighton & Hove Albion. Jaap Stam admitted he did not want to lose either player, but there was nothing he could do about their exits.

Plenty of youngsters have secured loan switches this summer, most notably Sean Long to Cambridge, Craig Tanner to Plymouth, Jack Stacey to Exeter, Tariqe Fosu to Colchester, Aaron Kuhl to Boreham Wood and Rob Dickie to Cheltenham Town. Paolo Hurtado inevitably also moved away on loan to Vitória de Guimarães - it's hugely unlikely we'll ever see him in a Reading shirt again. Finally, after finding himself as third choice goalkeeper, Jonathan Bond completed a temporary move to League One Gillingham.

The Big Name Rumours

Two rumours that caught the eye the most this summer were suggestions that Rafael van der Vaart and Asamoah Gyan were in talks at the Madejski Stadium. Both are players who have played on the biggest stages in the Premier League and World Cups.

VDV reportedly called Jaap Stam and asked to play for Reading before deciding FC Midtjylland was a better move, whilst Gyan had a medical with the club, but by failing it ended all hopes of signing.

Keeping Hold Of Players

Apart from Tshibola and Norwood, very few players were linked with moves away from Berkshire this summer, which effectively sums up how little they have caught the eye over the past few seasons.

Yet after being part of Wales' run to the Euro 2016 semi-finals, Chris Gunter was linked with multiple clubs throughout the summer including Celtic, Derby County and Hull City.

Meanwhile, Danny Williams made his desire for Premier League football very clear, yet no move emerged despite reported interest from the likes of Swansea City and Sunderland.

The Forgotten Names

How many of these players can you remember Reading being linked with the summer? Islam Feruz didn't end up following John Swift from Chelsea, whilst Gaston Campi's trial clearly didn't convince Jaap Stam enough.

More often than not, Reading looked abroad this summer, with French striker Anthony Koura turning down the Royals, and a move for his compatriot centre-back Danilson Da Cruz did not work out either.

We could also have had two Slovenian internationals wearing the blue and white hoops if you believed the rumours linking striker Tim Matavz and winger Matic Crnic with moves to Berkshire. The latter was even allegedly spotted by a fan 'having a medical', but it turned out to be Sandro Weiser instead.

But Stam did also look in Britain for new players - League One full-backs Ben Coker and Conor McLaughlin were rumoured to be on the club's radar. Middlesbrough winger Adam Reach was another possibility, but a rumour linking Celtic defender Efe Ambrose with Reading was rubbished by the club.

On a deadline day, seemingly the only rumour we got came around 10am as Lewis Grabban was linked. However it emerged in the evening that the Royals had a bid for QPR's Conor Washington turned down, whilst Aston Villa man Gabby Agbonlahor turned down a move to Berkshire. We were then surprised with under two hours to go as a late report from Serbia suggested Bulgarian striker Valeri Bojinov could sign for the Royals.

How well do you think Brian Tevreden and Jaap Stam have done in their first transfer window? Vote in our poll and let us know your thoughts in the comments below.