Reading Running Out Of Time

That transfer clock is tick-tocking down and in only a matter of days many teams may have missed their chance to bolster their squads.

Many clubs will rue missing their opportunity to strengthen their squads after injury disaster hits but one of these won`t be Reading.

You see, Reading have already been paid a visit by the injury fairy and still the team refuse to make any footprints in the transfer market!

Reading`s lone signing in the winter window has been 18-year-old goalkeeper, Mikkel Andersen. The Dane signed for an undisclosed fee but it is thought to be in the region of 100,000.

Meanwhile, Reading`s defence is being exposed to the bare bone, with central defender Ibrahima Sonko out for an unknown time and defensive stand in, Brynjar Gunnarsson also suffering; it could be said that Reading have had a few scares.

And, what`s more with the loss of Nicky Shorey and skipper, Graeme Murty in recent matches alarm bells should be ringing around the Madejski Stadium.

However I paint a very unbalanced picture, there are noises coming from the Reading camp to combat the defensive agonies, albeit they are murmurs and not shouts and screams.

According to the Reading Evening Post Reading will be bringing Cork City centre back Alan Bennett in to reinforce the weakened defence.

After much time spent ironing out a fee with the Irish club, it is thought that the 25-year-old will join the Royals for a sum of around £250,000; somewhat of a compromise from Reading`s last offer of 200,000 and Cork`s demand of 300,000.

It is thought that Cork`s chairman Brian Lennox was in Reading recently finalising the deal and that the news will be confirmed in days to come.

Meanwhile, there is still time for Reading to make some other moves: Colchester`s Greg Halford is, as always, in the frame and Richard Chaplow of West Brom, has joined Luton`s Leon Barnett on Reading`s wanted list.

Finally, Michael Duberry, the ex-Chelsea player and captain of Stoke; is also an alleged target of Reading:

Reading boss Steve Coppell is hoping to bring the FA Cup winner in as cover for his sparse defensive line.