Paul Clement will take charge of his first Reading game on Friday and his immediate job will be keeping the Royals in the Championship.

The Berkshire club lost in the play-off final on penalties last season and many hoped they would be able to go one better this time around.

However, it hasn't happened and Jaap Stam paid the price last week as he was sacked after just over 18 months in charge at the Madejski Stadium.

As mentioned, Clement's priority right now will be survival, with Reading just three points above the relegation zone, but in the long-term he will have ambitions of competing near the top of the Championship.

Here we look at five players who could transform the Royals into promotion contenders next season...

The Wolves defender has struggled for game time at the league leaders this season and you can envisage the same problem for Hause if they are promoted.

Given his age and potential a loan deal may be more realistic but the former England U21 international should be available.

His ability at this level is undoubted and he would be a great signing for most Championship sides.

Clement signed Olsson at Derby and with the Royals in desperate need of a left-back it would make sense to go back for his former player.

The ex-Swansea coach likes his full-back to attack and that is exactly how the Sweden international plays.

Another player the new Reading boss may want from Pride Park is defensive midfielder George Thorne.

The deep-lying midfielder played some great football under Clement and was key to his plans at Derby.

With Gary Rowett having a lot of players to choose from in that position, he may be willing to sell the former West Brom man who has suffered with plenty of injuries.

Jaap Stam saw the issues with the Reading goalkeepers having dropped Vito Mannone for Anssi Jaakkola in recent weeks and in truth neither have convinced.

Clement may want a new keeper in the summer and tempting Ward to the Madejski Stadium would be huge.

The talented keeper won't get in at Liverpool and will surely be available in the summer.

Reading targeted the powerful striker in the past two windows but Hugill ended up going to Premier League West Ham.

However, it hasn't worked out for the former Preston man since moving to London and he is surely going to moved on in the summer.

A host of Championship clubs will be interested and the Royals have to be one of them.