Reading FC Owner Makes Worrying Contract Update

Joe Jacobson, Reading’s co-CEO, has admitted that the club might not be able to bring back all the players they have offered contracts to, amid interest in Amadou Mbengue from a number of Championship sides.

Strong seasons in the final year of a player’s contract work out well for their club in the short-term, but can also harm them long-term.

Because of the campaign that someone like Mbengue has had, he is now reportedly wanted by more clubs than just the one he is contracted to until the end of the month.

Charlton Athletic, Preston North End, Queens Park Rangers and Watford are all reportedly interested in the 23-year-old centre-half, presenting him with a tough decision of whether to stick around at the Select Car Leasing Stadium with brighter days seemingly ahead and accept the deal that they have offered him, or whether to go back to the Championship.

Jacobson, who joined the Royals following Rob Couhig’s takeover in May, has admitted that they might not be able to hold onto all the players that they have offered fresh terms to.

“Everyone who we wanted to stay will stay, within reason,” said the former Wycombe Wanderers defender to the Reading Chronicle.

“We might not be able to keep everyone because of how well some did but we are trying.

“We would love to keep everyone we have offered contracts to. It might not happen, but that is football. We want to get players in, some really good and exciting players.”

This transfer window is the first in four years that Reading will be able to buy players for cash after their long-standing embargo was lifted by the EFL following the takeover.

They have made positive moves so far, securing the future services of Lewis Wing and Joel Pereira, but they are yet to bring in any new faces.

Jacobson revealed that more Reading players have also agreed to stay but can’t be announced yet due to a process that they have to go through with the EFL as a result of the club changing hands at the end of last season.

The Welshman added that they have been in talks with other talents who are also wanted by teams in their division and the league above, a couple of which are close to being done.

Reading FC could have a very strong summer thanks to Rob Couhig factor

Because of the feel-good factor around the Berkshire club, especially in comparison to the dreary Dai Yongge days that preceded Couhig’s takeover, you could see more and more flocking to the Royals to be part of this new project.

Even with the abject financial conditions that the Chinese businessman put them in, Noel Hunt was almost able to guide them to a top-six finish.

Now that they have the resources to make proper meaningful investments in the squad, the prospect of joining Reading will be a much more appealing one for those that are currently at the club as well as those on the outside.