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While Reading fans have been getting excited about the prospect of adding to the squad in January, one rumour has popped up to remind fans of the other side of the transfer window, the fear of losing players. This time around it's Garath McCleary, a man who seems to be linked with a move every January, with La Liga side Valencia the latest team reportedly in the market for the midfielder.
As to the source of the rumours, it's apparently a local radio station journalist in Spain who's come up with the story, but there doesn’t seem to be any corroborating evidence elsewhere on t'internet, or from any other sources.
Right now Valencia are a club in crisis, with Head Coach Cesare Prandelli quitting just over a week ago leaving the club searching for an 11th boss in just over five years. The Spanish side find themselves 17th in La Liga and fans are protesting for owner Peter Lim to go.
Yet it's Lim that might provide the only logical link with McCleary, given the Singapore businessman has plenty of ties in England, notably recruiting Gary Neville to coach the club last year. With that in mind it's possible he's got a few scouts or agent relationships over here that might have led him to McCleary's door.
Logically however, this one makes precious little sense for either club, yet alone the player. I'm sure he could put in a decent run of games in Spain but would he really want to go to a club riddled with crisis on and off the pitch, especially when he's said how much he's loving life under Jaap?
From our point of view, and while Garath's contract is up this summer, there's reportedly an option year available and unless Reading get a mind blowing offer, it's hard to see them letting McCleary go while the potential riches of the Premier League are looking an increasingly attainable goal.
McCleary's talent and contract situation do make him a possible target this month and you can never rule out the chances of an agent stirring up interest, but a move to Spain? Nah, we're not buying it.