No Signings for Reading FC On Deadline Day

Reading endured a frustrating transfer deadline day as their hunt for a striker didn’t come to anything. The Royals had been hoping to bring in another forward, and were linked with a few midfielders, but it was all for naught.

Reported main target Nelson Oliveira, who scored for Portugal tonight, stayed at Norwich City amidst reports of the Canaries turning down a £12m Swansea City bid. Similarly, Brighton’s Tomer Hemed stayed at the Amex, with the Seagulls apparently unwilling to let go of the Israeli due to a lack of striking options.

There were also rumours linking the Royals with loan moves for Derby County’s Ikechi Anya and West Brom’s Sam Field, but neither came to anything.

In terms of outgoings, Sandro Wieser was the only player to depart - he joined Danzel Gravenberch at KSV Roeselare, who are owned by Reading shareholder Dai Xiu Li.

An excellent transfer window

Despite the failure to bring in an established, proven goalscorer, Reading can still be happy with a very good set of additions, who include:

Pelle Clement, Vito Mannone, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Leandro Bacuna, Dave Edwards, Modou Barrow and Sone Aluko.

First team regulars Ali Al-Habsi and Danny Williams were replaced, Clement and Bodvarsson are good talents for the future, whereas Barrow and Aluko will add pace and creativity to the front line.

Meanwhile, plenty of deadwood was cleared out from the squad. Let’s be honest: Stacey, Keown, Samuel, Hurtado, Cooper (permanent exits), Rakels, Bond, Gravenberch and Wieser (loan moves) would all struggle for minutes this season.

Is the squad as good as it possibly could be? No, the lack of a goalscorer means it isn’t, but Jaap Stam does certainly have better options as his disposal this season than he did last season. There’ll be plenty of competition for places all over the squad, which could go a long way to ensuring a high league finish.