Reading FC Transfer Deadline Day Preview Summer 2016

It's here folks! Get out your yellow ties, boot up your live blogs and tune in to see Jim White get increasingly excited as Big Ben prepares to strike 11pm, yes Transfer Deadline Day is upon us once more.

So what can we expect Reading boss Jaap Stam to be doing, aside from dodging a certain #bushwatch correspondent....

What Have We Done So Far?

It's been a bumper summer of transfer activity at the Madejski Stadium that's seen no fewer than 11 players arrive to replace six departing loanees, a trio of major free transfers and Oliver Norwood, Rowan Liburd & Aaron Tshibola who've all been sold.

Those arrivals have included a keeper in Anssi Jaakkola and defenders Tyler Blackett, Danzell Gravenberch & Liam Moore. On the midfielder front we've seen John Swift, Sandro Wieser, Joey van den Berg pitch up, joined by forwards Roy Beerens, Joseph Mendes, Yakou Meite and Callum Harriott.

What Do We Need To Do?

Our Assistant Editor Olly has done a fine job looking in detail at Jaap Stam's potential Deadline Day checklist so I encourage you to check that out.

The simple version is that the main priority remains a striker after the injury to Deniss Rakels and the general goal scoring issues that have been a nagging concern over not just this year, but the last few seasons. Beyond that, some full-back cover might not be a bad thing, although the abilities of Moore & Blackett to fill-in at right & left back have lowered that need considerably. Another attacking midfielder might also be a good shout but beyond that it's hard to see any areas in immediate needs of improvement.

Could Anyone Leave?

Of course, after all we're still a pretty small fish in the pond and there's a lot of Premier League clubs who'll be desperate to do whatever they can to preserve their top flight status, not to mention parachute payment fuelled clubs like Norwich, Newcastle and Aston Villa who have already spend mind boggling amounts for teams in the Championship.

Chris Gunter has been linked with a host of clubs this summer, with Hull one of the most common names being mentioned. Danny Williams was tipped to leave the Mad Stad earlier this summer but there's been little talk of a switch in recent weeks so it appears the American will at least see out his contract at the Mad Stad. There's also been faint whispers around Garath McCleary, who seems to have them pop up every deadline day.

What's more likely to happen is that youngsters will depart on loan, as there will no longer be a traditional emergency loan window in the Football League. That mean we'll no longer be able to send players out for 1-3 month spells in between windows so any switches need to be done before 11pm tomorrow night. Yet the very fact that there is no more emergency loan window, coupled with a boost to the U23 League & EFL Trophy commitments, might mean that Jaap Stam keeps a few more kids around in case of an injury crisis.

Who Have Reading Been Linked With?

Now that a deal for Asamoah Gyan seems to be dead, it remains to be seen who Jaap Stam will turn to. There have been precious few rumours in the last few weeks, keeping with a pattern that, Liam Moore aside, has seen the club very quietly go about their business this summer.

So that's your preview folks. On the surface I wouldn't expect fireworks from Stam on his first Deadline Day as a manager but as the Gyan news proved, things can all happen very quickly at the Madejski Stadium. Whatever the case, we'll do our best to keep you bang up to date right here on The Tilehurst End.