READING FC boss Jaap Stam hinted he could make a January swoop for Chelsea starlet Kyle Scott.

The 19-year-old midfielder was on Stam’s wish list, but Royals opted against a deal before last week’s transfer deadline.

However, Stam suggests a move for the Bath-born teenager in the new year could be on the cards.

“It’s a name that’s been mentioned but again we need to look at the players already within our squad,” he explained.

“If you are going to bring a player in from Chelsea what do Chelsea want us to do?

“Does he need to play, does he need to be in the squad? You don’t want to bring in players for the sake of it just because he’s played over there.”

Scott, who is under contract until summer 2019, was part of Chelsea’s pre-season tour to China and Singapore and was an unused sub in their 3-2 opening-day home defeat to Burnley and 2-1 away win against Spurs.

But Scott, a youth international with USA, England and Republic of Ireland, may face a battle to become a regular in Antonio Conte’s star-studded Blues side, though he is part of their Champions League squad.

Stam added: “We want players who can adapt straight away to our system. If you bring in a player of that calibre and tell them they are going to be in the stands then it’s not good for us, the player or the club he comes from.

“He was on the list, but not to bring him in straight away.”

Stam made seven signings during the summer but missed out on a striker following strong links to Norwich’s Nelson Oliveira, Brighton’s Tomer Hemed plus long-term target Nahki Well, who moved from Huddersfield to Burnley for around £5.5m.

Reading Chronicle:

Reading were linked with Norwich City striker Nelson Oliveira, left. Picture: Joe Giddens/PA Wire.

The Canaries are thought to have rejected an offer of around £9m for Oliveira, though Stam insisted: “We want players who make our squad better. To be honest Oliveira wasn’t the type of player who would be very good for us, but he was just too expensive.

“You always want one more striker, midfielder or defender but every manager says that.

“We brought some very high quality players into the squad which puts pressure on the other players because there is rivalry within the group. Everybody needs to step up this season in order to do well.”

Royals return from a two-week international break this Saturday when they host Bristol City (3pm ko).

Stam’s men are unbeaten in 13 Championship games at Madejski Stadium including last season’s play-offs, winning 10 and drawing three.

But Royals’ boss expects that superb run to come under threat from Lee Johnson’s Robins.

“To play at home on Saturday in front of our own fans gives us a good feeling.

“We feel comfortable playing there, but Bristol City are a very good team.

“We can’t think that because we’re on a winning streak at home it will be easy, it won’t.

“Bristol City have also made a few changes and they are playing well.

“We still need to give everything to get a result. We are not in a position to think we are going to beat every team that comes to the Madejski. We need to work hard and dig deep starting this Saturday.”

Left-back Jordan Obita has recovered from injury and could be involved this weekend, while Sone Aluko could make his debut following his club-record transfer from Fulham last week.