Football League World

Days to go: 1 in, 2 out - The transfer business Reading FC need to conduct ASAP

By Ryan White

Published Jan 26, 2017

As we enter the final week of the January transfer window, which closes at 11pm next Tuesday, clubs from all across the country will be looking to tie down a number of deals to bolster or strengthen their squad ahead of the final few months of the 2016/17 campaign.

One team who have done impressively well this year is Reading under the guidance of former Manchester United man Jaap Stam, who was appointed as manager at the Madejski Stadium last summer.

So far it's been a relatively quiet month for the Royals with just one move, and that was an arrival in the name of Tiago Ilori who signed for the Championship side from Premier League outfit Liverpool.

The only other news to come out of Berkshire over the last few weeks is Garath McCleary putting pen-to-paper on his long-term future at Reading with a three-and-a half-year contract, which was due to expire at the end of the season.

Stam is most likely still trying to do some business in the transfer window over the next couple of days, as he looks to adapt his team for the style of play he'll want to get the Royals back in the top-flight.

FLW's Ryan White looks at the transfer business Reading need to conduct as soon as possible with one in and two departures.....

IN - Omar Bogle

Reading are heavily in need of a goalscorer to fire them to promotion to the Premier League.

The transfer saga has arisen, again, surrounding Grimsby Town's prolific forward Omar Bogle.

The 24- year-old joined the Mariners in the summer of 2015 to help in their bid to return to the Football League after a six-year absence, he did that with sixteen league goals in the National League during the 2015/16 season and has continued rich vain in form this year as the attacker has already netted on 19 occasions.

Bogle is one of the hottest properties in League Two at the moment and will be desperate to test his ability in a higher division.

Royals manager Jaap Stam will be looking for a striker to complete his starting eleven and this is the man to do that.

OUT - Jonathan Bond

Bond started the season as second or third choice at the Madejski Stadium and having spent the first six months on loan at League One side Gillingham, the goalkeeper will be looking for first-team action in the near future.

The 23-year-old was number one at the Kent club but sustained an injury during the EFL Cup tie away to Tottenham Hotspur and lost his place for the rest of his time there.

If he does want a move away, then there is only a few days to do so which may mean it'll be a busy end to the transfer window for both Bond and Reading, as clubs look to make a swoop for the ex-England under-21 international.