JAAP Stam confirmed Reading FC were eyeing Manchester United’s James Wilson in the summer and that transfer funds are available to spend in January.

Royals asked about the 21-year-old striker’s availability when Yann Kermorgant was struck down with a serious hip and groin injury.

The move never materialised and Stam bolstered his strikeforce by landing Jon Dadi Bodvarsson from Wolves for around £1m.

But Wilson is still on Reading’s radar and Stam could make another swoop when the transfer window reopens on January 1.

When asked about the Wilson link, Stam said: “I know about it and we already spoke about him in June. But at the moment there is nothing in that.

“I’m not going to name names, but we are looking at players. We’re looking at the team, how we are set up and asking whether we need to do anything and bring in players in certain areas.

Reading Chronicle:

Reading manager Jaap Stam confirmed he will have money to spend on players in the January transfer window.

“So yes, we are looking at certain players who can improve the team and add extra quality to the squad. But that’s not going to be easy because clubs don’t want to sell their best players in January.

“Even now we are working hard and making contact, but that’s up to me. I’m only saying what I would like to see happen in terms of what we need to do.

“It’s up to Ron Gourlay (chief executive) and Brian Tevreden (sporting director) now in how they approach it.

“The fact we are always talking about the team, players and what to do means there is a budget there.”

Meanwhile, Stam also denied rumours linking him with Leicester City after boss Craig Shakespeare was sacked this week.

“I can only say it (Leicester) is a great team, it’s a big club with good players and I have ambition, everybody does,” he said. “But at the moment I’m still here and hopefully doing well for Reading.”