Striker Smith has been a target for Brendan Rodgers all summer and it looks like we might finally have done enough to get the striker to Madejski Stadium.
Director of Football Nicky Hammond has confirmed that we have bid for a player this week, and it is very likely that that player is Tommy Smith. After having two bids rejected, a final £1.6 million deal was offered to Watford on Tuesday with instructions to take it or leave it, and it looks very likely that they will take it.
Smith is out of contract at the end of this season and the deal would represent a fair price for the striker, who scored his first goal of the season for Watford on Tuesday night against Nottingham Forest.
The Royals are hopeful of tying up a deal before Saturdays game at home to Sheffield United in a bid to end our goal drought.
It may seem a fair price to you, but maybe thats because that is cheap. When you look at the players you have sold and the income generated, i ask you, would you have been a happy at receiving 1.6 for Doyle or hunt, you may argue that they are proven Premiership players, but then so is Smith, so stop taking the PI55 and pay the money and he is yours.
£1.6 million for a 29 year old championship striker, who is out of contract at the end of the season, seems like a fair price to me. Doyle and Hunt had both signed new contracts not long before they left, and in the case of Doyle was a much better player and several years younger.