Three Derby players Paul Clement could reunite with at Reading

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Paul Clement is set to become Reading’s new manager.

According to various reports, including a piece in the Guardian, Paul Clement is set to fly back from the United States to make his managerial return with Championship side Reading.

The Royals have been quick to pinpoint Clement as their new manager following the sacking of Jaap Stam, and it appears the former Real Madrid number two could be confirmed within the next 24 hours.

The 46-year-old has managerial experience with Derby County and Swansea City, miraculously helping the latter retain the Premier League position last season when all seemed lost.

Reading currently sit just above the Championship relegation zone and Clement will first be tasked with assuring their safety, before moulding their squad this summer to attempt another push for promotion to the top flight.

Here we look at three possible Derby players Clement may consider reuniting with at the Madejski Stadium:

Nick Blackman

Nick Blackman had played under then first-team coach Clement before at Blackburn Rovers, and he said that joining up with the former PE Teacher at Derby was a big incentive to move to Pride Park.

Incidentally the 28-year-old moved to the Rams from Reading in January 2016, having scored 11 goals in 25 games for the Royals in the first half of the campaign, but he failed to replicate that form at Derby.

Blackman has since been loaned out to Isreali side Maccabi Tel Aviv and, with seemingly no future at Derby under boss Gary Rowett, he could be allowed to leave on the cheap this summer.

Jacob Butterfield

The former Barnsley midfielder is another Clement signing at Derby, joining the Rams from Huddersfield Town in the summer of 2015, and he quickly established himself as a regular at Pride Park.

Butterfield enjoyed his best football at Derby under Clement, scoring seven goals in the 2015/16 campaign including an impressive double in the 2-0 away win over promotion rivals Hull City.

However, the 27-year-old has since lost his way at Pride Park and was loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday this season, struggling to make an impact and certainly not doing enough to earn a permanent move to the Owls.

The possession-based midfielder has one year left on his contract and, as a result, Derby may be willing to let him go on the cheap this summer.

Marcus Olsson

Marcus Olsson was another Clement signing at Derby, joining from Blackburn Rovers in January 2016.

The Sweden international joined as a short-term replacement for the injured Craig Forsyth and, now that the former Watford man is back from a lengthy injury, Olsson has only featured sparingly.

Clement also managed his twin brother Martin Olsson at Swansea City, therefore he knows the duo well and may consider linking up with the Derby man again considering Reading are light in the left-back area.