READING FC are lining up a January swoop for highly-rated Irish player Daryl Horgan.

The 24-year-old winger has shot to prominence for Dundalk during their Europa League campaign.

Sources in Ireland have confirmed the Royals are one of several clubs chasing Horgan including Championship rivals Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Ipswich Town.

Reading sent scouts to Ireland last weekend to watch Horgan in action for League of Ireland champions Dundalk against Cork City.

Dundalk failed to land a league and cup double as they were beaten by Cork in the FAI Cup final, but Horgan was once again one of the stand-out players.

His excellent club form also led to a recent international call-up by Republic of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill for their World Cup qualifier in Austria this weekend.

And no doubt Royals boss Jaap Stam will be getting the lowdown on Horgan’s progress from Reading duo Paul McShane and Stephen Kelly, who are also in the Ireland squad for that game.

If Horgan does play a part in the crucial qualifier against Austria he would becoming the first League of Ireland player to feature in a competitive international for Ireland since Shamrock Rovers midfielder Pat Byrne faced Denmark in 1985.

Former Royals midfielder Joe Gamble did pull on an Ireland shirt while playing in the League of Ireland, but that was in a friendly.

Horgan netted 10 times in 22 games for Dundalk this season and he also grabbed his first goal in Europe last week in a 2-1 loss at Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Stam has been given the green light to bolster his squad in the January transfer window and is believed to have a number of targets in mind.

However, he is also expecting to have to fight-off interest in several of his own players including goalkeeper Ali Al Habsi.

“If he keeps on doing that, it’s going to be very difficult to keep him within the squad,” warned Stam.

“Every team in the Premier League is looking for a good keeper who can make important saves for the team.”

Royals may also be forced to fend off approaches for in-form winger Garath McCleary, whose contract expires at the end of the season.