ANDRIJA Novakovich has signed a new two-year contract with Reading FC – and immediately sealed a loan move to the Dutch top flight.
The 21-year-old USA international put pen to paper on a fresh deal this week that keeps him at Madejski Stadium until 2020.
But the talented striker will play no part in Paul Clement’s first-team next season after agreeing a loan move to Fortuna Sittard for the 2018/19 campaign following their promotion back to the Eredivise.
Novakovich reaped the rewards of a loan spell in the Netherlands last season when he scored 19 goals in 35 league games for second-tier outfit Telstar – making him the second highest scorer in the division.
His form did not go unnoticed by the USA national team, earning the first of two caps in a 1-0 friendly win against Paraguay in March.
News of Novakovich’s departure has fuelled speculation that Clement already has lined up at least one new striker in the summer transfer window – having already released Joseph Mendes after his contract expired.
Royals boss is being linked with Nottingham Forest striker Barrie McKay, 23, while unconfirmed reports in the Italian media suggest 24-year-old Genoa forward, David Milinkovic, is another potential target after his loan move back to Scottish Premiership side Hearts appears to have broken down.
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