Reading FC Transfer Deadline Day Preview

What have we done so far?

Plenty!

Steve Clarke allowed long-serving trio Alex Pearce (Derby), Adam Federici (Bournemouth) & Jem Karacan (Galatasaray) to all leave on free transfers this summer, with the trio joined by a host of others including Mikkel Andersen, Yakubu, Danny Guthrie and Jure Travner.

Since that initial summer cull, we've also seen Hope Akpan (Blackburn) and Pavel Pogrebnyak (Dynamo Moscow) both leave the Mad Stad on a free while Jake Taylor also looks to have played his final game for the club after joining Motherwell on a season-long-loan in the final year of his deal.

In their place have come two goalkeepers in Ali Al-Habsi and Jonathan Bond. Defenders Paul McShane and Andrew Taylor (loan) as well as midfielders Stephen Quinn, Paolo Hurtado and Alex Fernandez (loan). Striker Orlando Sa has also pitched up in Berkshire plus a couple of long-term projects such as Rowan Liburd. Our deadline day fun was then given an early kick-start by the confirmation that Lucas Piazon had joined from Chelsea on a loan deal until the summer.

What do we still need?

A striker has to be the number one priority for Steve Clarke this summer, who was targeting a pair of new strikers even before he lost Pogrebnyak. Orlando Sa has made a solid start but with an injury to Dominic Samuel, it's once again been left to Hal Robson-Kanu, Simon Cox and Nick Blackman to share the support role. Blackman has stepped up so far with four goals but the other two have both looked as inconsistent as always.

Paolo Hurtado's arrival has given us some depth on the wing but it still looks a little fragile given Garath McCleary's injury struggles, Tariqe Fosu's youth and Hurtado's inexperience in England.

Elsewhere we look pretty set although a strong tough tackling midfielder might be a help, as could another right-back to support Chris Gunter.

So who have we been linked with?

Steve Clarke told the media this week that he's keen to make additions....

"I'm not really expecting to be overly busy,

I'm hoping that not too many people come and try and steal players from my squad.

But if we can get one, maybe two in, before the window then great."

The club's summer-long flirtation with Rapid Vienna striker Robert Beric came to a merciful and predictable end this week as he opted for European football with St Etienne.

Another player linked with a move to Berkshire has been Watford forward Matej Vydra who worked with Steve Clarke at West Brom. Price here would seem to be a big concern as would the player's own desire to remain in the Premier League.

Another reported Premier League target was Nowich forward Ricky van Wolfswinkel who endured a miserable spell in the Premier League two years ago before spending last year away from the club on loan, however the Dutch international made a last minute loan switch to Real Betis before the Spanish window shut.

Chelsea midfield pair Nathaniel Chalobah & Lucas Piazon have been rumoured to be on their way to the Madejski Stadium but while Piazon was confirmed yesterday, it now seems that Chalobah will be playing his football in Napoli this season.

Clarke had suggested there was a chance Crystal Palace frontman Kwesi Appiah could return after spending time on loan with us last season before a cruciate ligament injury ruled him out for most of the season but one Palace player who could make a loan switch is forward Sullay Kaikai.

Lower down the pyramid and media speculation suggests the club are taking a look at Wycombe defender Aaron Pierre.

Those are the most significant links so far but the club have been known for keeping deals pretty under the radar (Yakubu anyone?) and I'd expect a few more random names to come out today.

As always we'll be keeping you updated throughout the day here on The Tilehurst End while I'll be back with Westy and Jonny to round up the day's developments in an all new Tilehurst End Podcast which should be up before 10pm.