READING FC boss Brian McDermott is confident Chris Gunter will sign a new contract, writes Anthony Smith.

Royals risked losing their popular right-back on a free this summer when his current contract is due to expire.

But McDermott, who signed Gunter from Nottingham Forest for £1.5 million in 2012 during his previous spell in charge, says the Wales international is keen to stay.

“I've spoken with Chris and we'd like to try and keep him, so let's see if we can come to an arrangement,” he said.

“Ideally I'd like two really good right backs, two really good left backs, four centre halves and four midfield players.

“Chris is a really good right back and it would be nice if we could come to an arrangement between the football club and him so that we can talk about football matters and not contracts.”

Gunter, 26, has been a regular fixture in the Reading side after joining from Forest.

He has made 147 appearances for the Royals and has also racked up 64 caps for Wales, whom he will represent during this summer's European Championships.

“Chris is keen to stay. I brought him to the club, he's a great guy,” added McDermott.

“That same season we got Nick Blackman from Sheffield United for a million quid or so and we got Chris and Garath McCleary from Nottingham Forest.

“They're all really good people and Chris is a terrific character.

“He really wants to play for Reading and I've watched all his Wales games so I've got a season ticket for them as well.”

McDermott also hopes to tie down Gunter's Reading and Wales teammate, Hal Robson-Kanu, on a new deal.

The 26-year-old's contract is also due to expire this summer, and McDermott stated: “I've known Hal since he was 14 years of age. We haven't had a discussion with him yet from what I can gather, but I will have a chat with him soon to see how he is.

“Hal is playing well so we will see.”

Reading have been busy in the transfer window with Latvia striker Deniss Rakels on the verge of signing.

He will become the third new addition this month following the capture of Yann Kermorgant from Bournemouth for £500,000 and George Evans from Manchester City on a free.

Meanwhile, Nick Blackman was sold to Derby County for around £4m, Orlando Sa joined Maccabi Tel Aviv for an undisclosed fee this week, Paolo Hurtado is set for a loan move to Portugal and Academy graduate Jake Taylor has made a permanent switch to Exeter City.

McDermott stated: “What you don't want is to bring in 12 or 13 new players in the summer, that's not great. You try and build with what you've got.

“I remember back in 2005 and we lost to Wigan on the last day and just missed out on the play offs. But we built on what we had and won the league the following year.

“The year before my team went up in 2012 we also lost the play-off final to Swansea City.

“We then lost Shane Long, Mattt Mills and Zurab Khilnashvili. We had to replace them and it took us a while to get going.

“We're just trying to improve all the time and build something at Reading. I see players really battling for each other now and our team coming back from behind.”