Reading FC To Bid For Cardiff Striker?

How much to read into these rumours remains in question but on the surface this one could certainly be filed under the 'possible' category.

Maynard has struggled to live up to a £2.5m transfer fee at the Cardiff City Stadium and hasn't featured in a match since Russell Slade took over from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in October.

With the forward out of contract this summer, local media have reported that Slade is open to letting the forward go, even on a loan basis, perhaps even paying some of his wages to get him off the books. The signing this weekend of Rotherham's Alex Revell will only have pushed the former Bristol City man closer to an exit.

Maynard was once a very highly rated prospect, breaking through at Crewe before firing home 45 goals in 124 games for Bristol City in the Championship. At one stage City turned down a reporterd £5m bid from Leicester for the striker, before allowing him to move on to West Ham in January 2012.

Sadly from there it's been mostly frustrations for the 28-year-old forward, who has started just 26 league games in the past three years, scoring eight times including 4 in 16 games on loan at Wigan.

It's exactly those circumstances which might present Reading with an opportunity to take a punt on Maynard for the next six months and see how he gets on. If it's a success, it's a potential free transfer and if not there's no real long-term commitment.

So what do you think Tilehurst Enders? Worth a go or stay clear?

We'll bring you any more news as well as any more transfer speculation right here on The Tilehurst End.