Copps Prepped for Transfers

With speculation rife regarding the future of some of Reading’s top players, Steve Coppell has admitted that the club have received offers.

James Harper, Nicky Shorey and Stephen Hunt are the most likely candidates to leave this summer and Coppell has revealed that there has been enquiries.

He said, ‘We have players who obviously want to remain in the Premier League and who feel they should be playing in the Premier League, and there have been speculative phone calls and a couple of bids – three at the very most,’

‘Some players have come to me and said things along the lines of ‘if anybody comes in with an offer for me then I would like to go’.

‘I can understand their attitude. They have tasted the Premier League and they all want to be there, and the quick and easy way is the transfer and to sign a contract somewhere else.

‘But we don’t have to sell anybody. Players are under contract and we have no financial pressure to sell.’

Meanwhile, should the Royals lose some of their stars, Director of Football Nick Hammond insists that Steve Coppell has lined up potential replacements.

Hammond said, ‘(Chief scout) Brian McDermott and I have sat down with Steve and approved potential targets, but at the moment Steve is more concerned with looking at the existing squad.

‘We just need to make sure that we don’t miss the boat if we know a player (we’re interested in) is going to move.

‘Steve knows what’s going on in the market place in the Championship and if he wants to pursue any of those targets he will have all the information at his fingertips.’

Royals fans will be hoping business will be done sooner rather than later and with the unveiling of the new kit set to happen this Friday, I have a sneaking suspicion that it could coincide with a new signing.