JAAP Stam has urged the Reading FC hierarchy to get their transfer business done soon or face paying inflated prices.

Royals boss confirmed that signing a new striker and midfielder remain his top priority before the transfer window closes next week.

But the club’s efforts have so far failed following strong links with Brighton’s Tomer Hemed and Huddersfield’s Nahki Wells.

And Stam fears the longer Royals dally over striking a deal, the more the player will cost following reports of a failed £4m offer for Hemed this week.

Stam, speaking after tonight’s 3-1 Carabao Cup third round home win over Millwall, admitted: “If it was up to me, I am very confident of bringing players in, but it’s not up to me.

“I want to bring players in and we need to bring players in. I’ve spoken with the club about it, even before I signed.

“It’s about looking for the right players and getting them in to make us stronger.”

New chief executive Ron Gourlay and director of football Brian Tevreden are chiefly in charge of Reading’s transfers business.

And Stam fears the closer Royals get to the transfer deadline next week, the more they may have to fork out.

“We are heading towards the end of the transfer window so it’s going to get harder and harder,” he stressed.

“A club is not going to let their best player go for like half the price, it’s not going to happen.

“The longer we wait, the more expensive players get.

"It’s not going to be easy to bring those player in but they need to come in because we need that extra quality in the squad.

“A striker and a midfielder are our main priorities.”