Harper Happy to Stay

Although Royals midfielder James Harper is one of the firm favourites to leave the club this summer, Royals boss Steve Coppell has insisted the 27 year-old midfielder is happy to stay at Reading.

Harper, who has a 40% sell-on clause in his contract, has been linked with a £4.5million move to either Bolton or Middlesbrough and Coppell has admitted he received a phone call from a Premier League club about the 27-year-old last week.

Despite the speculation surrounding the former Arsenal trainee, the Reading manager insists that Harper will not become disillusioned with life at the Madejski Stadium if he doesn`t seal a move away from the club.

Coppell said, ‘It was in his contract that he goes on the transfer list if we got relegated.

‘He`s on the transfer list – if someone meets our valuation then I`ll put it to him. But he`s quite happy to stay here and play. He`s spent a number of years at the club and, in a way, is excited about trying to get back in the Premier League.

‘He just loves his football; he just wants to play week in, week out. In the Premier League I don`t think there are enough games for him: he`d like twice as many games.

‘He just says ‘If I`m going I`ll go, and if I`m staying I’ll stay’ and you`ll know you`ll get 100%. That`s perfect with me.`

Meanwhile, one person who is definitely staying at the club, is coach Wally Downes. The former Brentford manager has signed an extended one year deal with the club.

In further news, Jem Karacan and Jimmy Kebe both got on the scoresheet, as Reading continued their pre-season campaign with a 2-0 victory at Forest Green Rovers.