Andy Carroll is in talks with Reading over a possible free transfer to the Championship side after leaving Newcastle United at the end of his contract, according to the Daily Mail.
Carroll returned to St James’ Park on an initial one-year contract in August 2019 before agreeing to a 12-month extension. The Toon spoke with the 32-year-old over staying on Tyneside further this summer, per Chronicle Live, but were unable to agree on terms.
Newcastle presented an offer to Carroll, but head coach Steve Bruce noted he left to join a club where he would play regularly. The nine-cap England international only started four of his 18 Premier League appearances last season, and played just 21 minutes after January.
Reading are now speaking with Carroll over a potential Deadline Day deal for the Newcastle product. The Royals have already added top-flight experience with Danny Drinkwater and Scott Dann arriving. But manager Veljko Paunovic remains in the market for a new striker.
George Puscas, who is yet to score this term, is the only centre-forward currently available at the Madejski Stadium. Reading have scored a combined seven over the opening five league fixtures, but have only won once to sit 21st.
Paunovic will hope Carroll delivers a better goal return than the Reading target offered Newcastle over the past two seasons. The Gateshead-born target man netted just once in 22 appearances in all competitions last term, and failed to score over 21 games in 2019/20.
Carroll to rediscover lost form at Reading after Newcastle exit?
Bruce struggled to see reason to field Carroll during the now-Reading target’s final months at Newcastle. After scoring his first goal since returning to Tyneside against Leicester this January, he only played more than a quarter of an hour during a top-flight fixture twice.
Yet Bruce was full of praise after the Foxes affair, claiming via Football365: “Andy certainly brought us to life. We went a bit more direct to him. He has given me food for thought. It’s nice to see him fit and well. We just lacked that bit of quality in the final-third.”
Paunovic will hope Carroll can now bring the stuttering Royals frontline to life to turn their poor start around. And potentially show Bruce what he overlooked at the end of last term.
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