A ball hasn’t even been kicked in anger this season but dark clouds are already hanging over the Madejski Stadium, memories of last year’s promotion push dissipating rapidly.
Star man and set-piece specialist Michael Olise has gone to Crystal Palace, striker Yakou Meite will be missing for months after suffering a cruciate ligament injury while, for young left-back Omar Richards, the chance to compete with Alphonso Davies at Bayern Munich was understandably too good to turn down.
Did we mention Reading are locked in a transfer embargo, meaning Olise, Meite and Richards haven’t been replaced with just days to go until Saturday’s Championship opener at Stoke City?
And things could get even worse before they get better.
On Monday, The Athletic reported Nottingham Forest had lodged a seven-figure bid for midfielder Josh Laurent.
Nottingham Forest eye Tom Holmes move
Tom Holmes will be a free agent next summer and, with contract talks seemingly hitting the buffers, the Royals may have little choice but to cash in should Forest firm up their interest (Berkshire Live).
The 21-year-old is technically gifted, comfortable in possession, excellent in the air and, during his breakthrough season, looked unfazed by the pressures of senior football.
His ability to play at right-back as well as at centre-half should also appeal to Nottingham Forest given their lack of cover on the flanks.
Here’s what some Reading fans on Twitter had to say about the latest move in their nightmare transfer window:
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