Reading Face Competition To Sign Ex-Manchester United Midfielder

The transfer window shut over a month ago and doesn't reopen until July, but that doesn't stop the papers publishing rumours left, right and centre, with Reading today linked with Ryan Tunnicliffe by The Mail.

The midfielder is currently on loan at Wigan Athletic from Fulham, who he signed for in 2014 for £1.2 million from Manchester United. His contract is up this summer, with the report suggesting the Cottagers are willing to let him go for free.

Tunnicliffe was a rated very highly as he came through the ranks at Old Trafford, winning the Jimmy Murphy Young Player of the Year award in 2011, the same year that he played alongside Paul Pogba in Jesse Lingard in the club's FA Youth Cup success.

Now 24, Tunnicliffe has amassed over 150 Championship games, whilst he can play across the midfield.

If the Royals do want to sign him, then they face competition from Huddersfield, Brentford, QPR, Ipswich, Cardiff, Nottingham Forest as well Scottish Premiership side Rangers according to the paper.

Would he be a good signing?

Reading's midfield department is already pretty stacked, but in the summer Jordon Mutch's loan will have expired and Danny Williams may well depart at the end of his contract.

My query is whether we really want a player who Fulham appear happy to let go for nothing, and one who has had three loan spells away from the club in as many years. Tunnicliffe is also unlikely to add much of an attacking threat to the side, with his last goal coming in October 2015 for Fulham against Bristol City.

Apart from Huddersfield, the list of others reported to be interested in him isn't awe-inspiring, but if Reading were still playing Championship football next season, aren't those the sort teams we'd be looking to compete with? Or are clubs assuming that because he was once a Red Devil he must be half decent?