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When Ola John departed the Madejski Stadium in May 2016 after his loan spell from Benfica had ended, we thought we’d seen the back of a player who didn’t show his supposed quality anywhere near enough and was never 100% fit in his time at the club.
However, if you’re to believe The Mirror today, then the 25-year-old could be on his way back to Berkshire on a permanent deal because Jaap Stam wants to “boost the Royals” according to the publication. Really?!
John, capped by the Netherlands once at senior international level, made 33 appearances in the blue and white hoops (and African violet) in the 2015/16 campaign and scored just four goals. But he was more of a hit with fans than those statistics suggest due to the ‘Ola Ola Ola John’ chant.
The winger then agreed a season-long loan deal at Wolves at the start of the 2016/17 season. However he played a total of just 71 minutes for the Midlands club, cutting his spell short in January to secure another loan move to La Liga side Deportivo La Coruña. He only fared slightly better there, making 11 appearances but failing to score. In total, John has played for four different clubs in last three seasons and completed 90 minutes in the league just twice in that time.
That should tell you all you need to know not only about how the Dutchman has become somewhat of a journeyman but also that there is clearly a problem with his fitness.
It is also hard to see that Jaap Stam would look to bring his compatriot to Reading considering that the squad is fairly well-stocked with wingers. Personally I can only think that The Mirror have picked up on some agent talk as well as the Dutch connection.