Reading may be forced to sell £5 million-rated striker Yakou Meite, with the Telegraph reporting that Crystal Palace and Watford are interested.
A season that started with seven wins in eight games – a run which had the Royals sitting six points clear at the top of the table heading into November – ended with a bit of a whimper.
Reading’s automatic promotion hopes soon died a death following an inevitable levelling-off of the results, before their play-off dreams went the same way.
Following a still-respectable yet rather underwhelming seventh-placed finish, Reading’s worrisome financial situations mean they may be forced to consider offers for a couple of key players.
Such as Meite, for example.
The Telegraph report that Crystal Palace are going head-to-head with bitter rivals Brighton and Hove Albion for the £5 million-rated frontman.
Premier League newcomers Watford are interested too, with the physical Meite perhaps viewed at Vicarage Road as a potential long-term successor for the ageing Troy Deeney.
Meite was overshadowed by strike partner Lucas Joao for large spells of 2021/22.
But, despite suffering from a series of injury problems, the Ivory Coast international still netted an impressive 12 goals in 19 Championship starts.
Crystal Palace are under pressure to find a replacement for the out-of-contract Christian Benteke at Selhurst Park, while Brighton’s lack of end product in the final third is the stuff of legend at this stage.
Could Meite solve both of those problems?
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