Reading are flying in this year's Championship campaign and not even the most optimistic Royals fan would have predicted that Jaap Stam would have settled into management so seamlessly.

It was seen as a highly risky gamble to appoint the inexperienced Jaap Stam, who had never managed a professional side and never coached in England.

Nonetheless he has defied the odds and guided Reading to third place in the Championship after seventeen matches, with 31 points to their name.

Reading trail Brighton and Hove Albion in second place by four points but they are on a superb run of form recently with Stam overseeing four consecutive league wins.

The Championship is already shaping up to be an exciting campaign with a number of teams scrapping for those promotion places and play-off spots.

With the January window coming up, Reading will no doubt be tempted to splash the cash in order to strengthen their squad for the run-in.

Here are three reasons why they need to spend big money on a striker when the transfer window re-opens.

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There is no glossing over the fact that Reading's strikers are sub-standard for Championship level.

While Yann Kermorgant and Dominic Samuel are reasonable enough players at this level, neither will score a hat-full of goals to fire Reading to promotion.

Reading need an out and out goalscorer to spearhead their promotion charge and that is why they need to act in January.

Best chance in a while

Reading missed the chance to invest in their squad when they were in the Premier League last time and are still struggling as a result of that.

When things are bright, the atmosphere is optimistic and hopeful and the team is playing really well, bringing in a few high quality additions will only strengthen the squad by upping competition for places.

Jaap Stam has guided Reading to third, which lays the platform for promotion and they need to invest in January so that they don't miss out this season and end up fading away next season.

Jaap Stam future

Another by-product of failing to win promotion this season is the likelihood of Jaap Stam leaving in that scenario.

The Dutchman is clearly a very good tactician who is destined to manage at a higher level so Reading will have their work cut out to fend off interested parties if the Royals don't go up this season.

For the sake of keeping such a highly talented and relatively young manager, Reading need to give him a striker to work with - a basic resource for winning promotion to the top tier.

 

Reading fans - do you agree with this? Do you need a striker in January? Who would you want to see join? Let us know in the comments below...