READING FC’s activity is likely to be limited this transfer window in terms of incomings, if any at all, with the club again limited to signing only free agents or loans.
Royals boss Ruben Selles had admitted that his priority is to keep his current squad together as the side looks to battle for safety in League One.
Despite that, the club may be under pressure to sell some of their assets if the right offer is on the table. Therefore, they may turn to the free agents market if needed, although funds are notoriously tight due to Dai Yongge’s reluctance to fund the club sufficiently while talks of a takeover continue to drag on.
Here are five options the Royals may look to turn to in order to bolster their squad across the next month.
Matty Longstaff
The midfielder, who came from Newcastle United’s academy, has been available on a free since being released by the Magpies in the summer.
His most recent spell was with League Two Colchester United last season where played seven times on loan.
The 23-year-old played a total of 14 Premier League games for Newcastle and scored on his league debut in a 1-0 win over Manchester United, which won the Goal of the Month award.
A loan spell in Scotland with Aberdeen was followed by a stint in League Two with Mansfield Town where he scored six times in 16 games.
After suffering an ACL injury during his time at Colchester in December 2022, he is nearing a return to fitness.
Dan Gosling
The 34-year-old has bags of experience having played in the Premier League for more than a decade.
Best known for his time with AFC Bournemouth, the midfielder became a mainstay in the Cherries’ side who won promotion to the top flight for the first time in the club’s history in 2014/15.
After playing in the Premier League for both Everton and Newcastle United, he played a total of 193 times for Bournemouth before moving to Watford in 2020.
After three seasons with Watford, Gosling made a surprising move on a free transfer to League Two Notts County.
He played seven times for Notts County before his short-term deal expired in December.
Dan Gosling at AFC Bournemouth Picture: Wikimedia Commons
Tariqe Fosu
A former Royals academy prodigy, Fosu broke through the ranks after impressive performances with various Reading youth teams.
He failed to force his way into the first-team and made just one substitute appearance in the Championship, followed by loan spells at Fleetwood Town, Accrignton Stanley and Colchester United.
The winger turned down a contract extension at Reading and left to join Charlton Athletic on a permanent deal in 2017.
Fosu scored 11 times in 57 League One appearances for the Addicks before joining Oxford United in 2019 where he hit eight goals in 25 games.
He then made the move to Brentford where played 50 times and netted five times.
After falling out of favour since Brentford’s promotion to the Premier League, unsuccessful loan spells with Stoke City and Rotherham United ended with his contract expiring with the Bees last summer.
