Reading paid Fulham significant money for Sone Aluko last summer making him comfortably the most expensive player in their history.

The Royals, however, should cut their losses and sell him.

Aluko had a disappointing season. With Reading having fallen at the final hurdle in 2016/17, his signing was one that was supposed to push them over the line. Instead, relegation was only avoided on the final day of the season. The 29-year-old’s performance was emblematic of the club’s struggles. He scored three goals and engineered four assists in his 39 appearances. This was scant reward for his 59 shots, the most of any player at the club.

Reading’s problem was that they were sucked in by Aluko’s numbers for 2016/17. He put away eight goals and secured ten assists in a Fulham side that were scoring for fun. In that season he had 134 shots, the most of any player in the league. It is not difficult to score a couple when you have so many shots. Indeed, the next fifteen players in terms of shots taken that season all outscored him, some with over 30 fewer attempts.

Fundamentally, Aluko was made to look good in a side that could carry him. Reading do not have that luxury. Selling him would be an admission of a mistake and result in a minor loss of face. However, it is necessary. It is always preferable to admit and rectify a mistake than to play dumb and let it fester.

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