Paterson possible Royals target

Reading boss Brian McDermott is eyeing up Burnley’s Martin Paterson as a possible tranfer target, if he is to sell in-demand striker Shane Long.

The 24-year old Northern Ireland international will be very familiar to many Royals fans, considering he scored a stunning goal in Burnley’s 2-0 win in the 2nd leg of the 2009 Play-off semi-finals at the Madejski stadium.

The former Stoke and Scunthorpe striker has also interested fellow Championship club Portsmouth, with them already having a £1.5m bid turned down.

Paterson has made 77 appearances for the Clarets and scoring 18 goals but has found it difficult to get into the team this term, having failed to get past Jay Rodriguez, Chris Iwelumo and Charlie Austin in the pecking order.

‘The People’ claim that the Royals will make a move depending on star man Shane Long moving away from Reading, with some of the fee being used to fund the acquisition of the man Burnley fans brand ‘Pato’.