106 Team Hero To Return To The Madejski?

The reports have been carried by both Sky Sports and Get West London, both of whom are suggesting that Reading have joined Fulham in trying to bring in Sidwell on loan from Stoke. Sidwell has played for both clubs so the link is fairly easy, while a record of just 12 Premier League minutes in 2015/16 would also suggest he's surplus to requirements at the Britannia Stadium.

Sky believe that wages are the present stumbling block with both Fulham and Reading looking for Stoke to stump up cash towards the deal. Fulham are under a transfer embargo so it's harder for them to do business right now, with a complicated set of criteria needing to be met before any deal can be done.

However Reading also have a fairly major stumbling block and that's the fact that we've already got six players on loan deals when five is the limit for any one matchday squad. To that end, McDermott has all but ruled out loan signings during this window so you'd think the club would be after a permanent deal if they do have interest in bringing him in.

While it's unrealistic to expect a 33-year-old Sidwell to be the same player that was one of, if not the biggest, cog in that magical 106 team, the fact remains that he's an experienced player who still has something to offer. Other than Danny Williams, there isn't really a true box-to-box midfielder in the side and Sidwell's steel and determination would also help ease the pressure on young Aaron Tshibola who's still finding his way at senior level.

For now we'd still rate this one as unlikely but it's got a bit more legs than the Alex Pearce or Alex Iwobi loan rumours we've seen over the past week or so.

So what do you think folks, should Sidwell return or should we be looking at younger hungrier players?