Reading have reportedly made an offer for French midfielder Mohamed Diaby from Portuguese club Pacos de Ferreira.

Royals boss Jose Gomes will likely be looking to strengthen this summer after the club were involved in a relegation battle last season and, according to Daily Telegraph journalist Jason Burt, the club has made a bid for the 22-year-old midfielder.

Reading are currently under a soft transfer embargo, which means they need the EFL's permission to sign players, as the club are close to breaching the league's profit and sustainability guidelines.

Diaby made 25 appearances for Pacos de Ferreira last season as the team finished the season as LigaPro champions and won promotion to the top flight of Portuguese football.

The Frenchman, who is the brother of ex-Arsenal midfielder Abou Diaby, joined his current club from Liga NOS team Santa Clara.

The Verdict

Due to their transfer embargo, it seems as though any business that Reading are going to do this season will have to be on the cheap.

A move for Diaby appears to be a move that would fall under that category. The midfielder is a relatively unknown quantity but has clearly shown enough for Pacos de Ferreira to lead the Royals to believe he would be an asset.

According to Transfermarkt, the 22-year-old's contract with Pacos de Ferreira is set to expire at the end of the month, meaning the English side could swoop for Diaby on a free transfer.

The Frenchman is untested in English football or at the Championship level but on a free transfer, a player who was a regular for the Portuguese second division winners could be a useful asset to Gomes, and importantly may be a deal that the EFL sanction.