PAOLO Hurtado has left Reading FC to join a Portuguese top-flight club on loan.

Hurtado failed to make an impression with the Royals having played just 150 minutes of first-team football since joining from another Portuguese club, Paços de Ferreira, in August.

The 25-year-old Peruvian midfielder was signed by former boss Steve Clarke, but he isn't part of new boss Brian McDermott's future plans and has been farmed him out on loan to Vitória de Guimarães for the rest of the season.

Hurtado made just six appearances for the Royals and he became the second high-profile departure this week following Orlando Sa's permanent move to Maccabi Tel Aviv.

But McDermott says Hurtado still has a future with Reading.

“Paolo needs to play games so it's going to be important for him to do that,” he said. “We will watch him play out in Portugal. He's on loan, he's still our player so he still has a future here.

“This is a good move for him.”

Hurtado struggled to settle in Berkshire, though McDermott insists Royals did everything they could do help.

He explained: “I remember doing that when I was chief scout here. I used to find them a flat, I even went shopping to Tesco's with Andre Bikey and his wife once.

“We try and help them in any way we can and to integrate them with the players. We get them a translator as well and we've made players peak English around Paolo which is important because it helps him pick it up.

“We're as good as any club in finding the best way for players to settle.”

Hurtado is the fourth player to leave Reading FC during the January transfer window.

Nick Blackman signed for Derby County for around £4 million and Jake Taylor joined Exter City on a permanent deal on Tuesday.

Royals also cut their losses on Clarke's marquee summer signing, Sa, who made just 21 appearances and scored five goals following his £1m arrival from Polish side Legia Warsaw.

Sa was sold to Maccabi Tel Aviv for an undisclosed fee earlier this week and scored on his debut for the Isreal club.

His goal comes around two minutes and 50 seconds into the clip below.

 

McDermott, meanwhile, made his third January signing last night with the capture of Latvian international striker Deniss Rakels.

The 23-year-old – who has scored 15 goals this season – joined from Polish side Cracovia for a fee in the region of £400,000.

Rakels penned a deal at Madejski Stadium until the summer of 2018, with the option of a further year.

Last week Royals landed Yann Kermorgant from Bournemouth for around £500,000 and George Evans from Manchester City on a free.

McDermott, who missed out on Conor Washington when he left Peterborough for QPR for £2.5m, has also handed a trial to 27-year-old Spanish midfielder Javier Matilla, who is a free agent.

But he ruled out a swoop for Walsall's highly-rated striker, Tom Bradshaw, who is set to line up against Reading in the FA Cup fourth round at Madejski Stadium this Saturday.

Meanwhile, Premier League clubs Stoke City and West Ham United are believed to be eyeing up a £5m swoop for Royals centre-back  Jake Cooper, 20.