Football Season Guide

Reading

In


Ovie Ejaria (midfielder, Liverpool), Josh Laurent (midfielder, Shrewsbury)

Out


Tyler Blackett (defender, Nottm Forest), Charlie Adam (midfielder, released), Chris Gunter (defender, released)

It has been a baffling summer at Reading. Mark Bowen appeared to have done a reasonable job in steading the ship last term as he kept them up comfortably. However he was replaced shortly before the restart of the campaign by little-known Serbian Veljko Paunović with Bowen rejecting the chance to take back his former role of sporting director. There appears to be an uncertainty over the direction the club are taking and things have not been helped by the finances, hit more than most clubs due to Covid-19. They have managed to sign permanently Ovie Ejaria from Liverpool. He was arguably player of the season last term so it is a crucial signing as it appeared at one stage he would not return. Josh Laurent is also another interesting addition but it has been quiet otherwise at the time of writing. Reading were poor at home last term and that is something the new manager will need to address.

Target


Difficult to see where Reading are going. They may well struggle but expectations will be for a push towards the top six. That appears most unlikely though.