Reading will try to sell Omar Richards in January if the West Ham United and Crystal Palace target has not signed a new contract, according to the Reading Chronicle.
In truth, the Championship’s pacesetters have no real choice.
As manager Veljko Paunovic himself admits, Richards is one of the first names on his team-sheet, having taken his game to a whole new level under the former Chicago Fire coach.
But selling in January is better than losing on a free in July.
England U21 international Richards is out of contract next summer and Reading know that, unless they can tie him down to a new, long-term deal over the next seven weeks or so, they will have little choice but to cash in.
Crystal Palace and West Ham are both interested in an attack-minded left-back who spent time in Fulham’s academy before moving to the Madejski.
Interestingly, both Palace and the Hammers appear to have made it their mission to unearth some of the brightest young talent in the second tier.
West Ham have snapped up Jarrod Bowen and Said Benrahma since the turn of the year while, over the summer, both Eberechi Eze and Nathan Ferguson arrived at Selhurst Park.
Neither club is short of left-backs, however, with Aaron Cresswell and Arthur Masuaku producing arguably their finest displays in claret and blue under David Moyes this season.
However, given that Patrick Van Aanholt is due to become a free agent in 2021, Richards might be part of a succession plan at Crystal Palace.
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