Reading poised to beat Fulham to Rhodes signature

Sportsdesk • Published 26 Jun 2012 06:30 6 Comments

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READING could be set to trump Premier League rivals Fulham for the second time this summer by landing Jordan Rhodes from Huddersfield Town.

Royals' new Russian connections served them well in the battle to sign Pavel Pogrebnyak.

Fulham tried signing the 28-year-old striker permanently after he scored six goals in 12 matches on loan at Craven Cottage last season.

But Reading - now owned by fellow Russian Anton Zingarevich - got there first and the ex-Stuttgart forward is poised to pen a four year-deal at Madejski Stadium on club record wages of around £30,000 per week.

Pogrebnyak passed a medical at the club's Hogwood Park training ground last week and will be officially unveiled once a work permit has been secured.

Now Royals could be about to gazump the Cottagers again by nabbing Rhodes from under Martin Jol's nose.

Jol has been tracking the 22-year-old striker for months but the Royals are believed to be preparing a £2 million offer, with ex-Terriers loan defender Sean Morrison thrown in as a makeweight.

Rhodes was named Huddersfield's Player of the Year after scoring 36 goals to help his side secure promotion to the Championship.

Morrison, 21, also became a big hit at Galpharm Stadium after making 22 appearances on loan for Huddersfield.

He scored from the spot in the League 1 play-off final against Sheffield United at Wembley which the Terriers won on penalties and Royals are now hoping to lure Rhodes to Berkshire with a tempting cash-plus-player deal.

Reading manager Brian McDermott refuses to discuss specific transfer targets but he did say recently: "We have a number of players in mind, like every club has at this stage of the summer.

"June has been fairly quiet but we expect things to pick up in July."

Reading's only confirmed summer signing when the Midweek went to press was winger Garath McCleary.

The 25-year-old free transfer signed a three year deal after leaving Nottingham Forest where he was named last season's Player of the Year.

Nevertheless, McDermott continues to be linked with a long list of potential signings, with Zingarevich ready to back his manager in the transfer market.

Reports suggest Royals failed with £2 million bids for Watford's Adrian Mariappa and Forest's Chris Gunter and may return with bigger offers.

Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong, Hull City's Robert Koren and Copenhagen's £7 million-rated Dame N'Doye are other possible targets for McDermott this summer.

l READING'S Premier League clash with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge has been moved to Wednesday, August 22 (7.45pm ko).

l THE Madejski Stadium Megastore will be closed for stock taking this Thursday.

l READING are holding a series of Summer Soccer Schools. To book a place call 0118 968 1480 or email soccerschools@readingfc.co.uk.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

hundredmphmike
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Jun 26, 07:30
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Excuse the sceptisicm but why would Huddersfield accept £2m and Sean Morrison when they turned down £4.5m in February when they were in League 1.

Huddersfield don't need to sell, so if Rhodes moves it will be for £8m and McDermott is probably too shrewd for that.

Not exactly researched reporting 'Sportsdesk' probably why you didn't use your name.

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Gary
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Jun 26, 08:50
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Which of his boots are reading expecting to get for 2 million!? Jay Rodriguez has just gone for 7 million and he only scored 15 goals, Rhodes has 48 including his 8 for Scotland this year! It's going to take 8 million and then that becomes a slight gamble for anyone paying that, although watching him he will score at any level! This "story" has come out of the daily star so enough said!

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Mitzi
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Jun 26, 10:01
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The Huddersfield chairman valued Rhodes at £5m+ back in December. His value has only increased since then as he went on to be the top scorer in all the divisions. Man U have just paid up to £6m for Crewe's Powell who scored just 16 goals in 45 games in the bottom division. Every team needs a proven goal scorer and they demand a premium. Much as we like Sean Morrison, he was deemed not good enough to play for Reading in the Championship last season, so presumably not good enough for the Premiership this coming season, so he can't command much of a transfer fee; perhaps £500k. A bid of £2m plus Morrison for Rhodes wouldn't even be looked at.

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Robsy
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Jun 26, 15:37
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Whilst I suspect that the figure of £2million plus Morrison is on the 'light' side - it should be remembered that Rhodes now only has a year left on his contract and when £4.5m was offered earlier in the year Huddersfield were not promoted thus good probably knock back that deal.

I would have thought that if Reading upped their off of cash to say £4m plus Morrison then Huddersfield would deal?

If the Pog & Rhodes do sign then that is a show of intent - one would imagine that signals the end for Manset, Williams, Bignall & others

Reading have to name a max of 25 players allowed in the Prem afford 6 strikers Pog, Rhodes, Roberts, Le Fondre, Hunt & Church - Need 8 MF's & 8 DF's plus 3 GKs?

Alledgedly Spurs, Liverpool & Reading have offered the £6.8m that Hoffenhiem wanted for Sig -- Would he come back.....

July looks a busy month....

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jezcomblue
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Jun 26, 19:18
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contracted to 2015 Robsy. No need to sell and player is happy at Town, although he will want a crack at the Premier League at some stage. Expect it will take a fair bit more than £2m + Morrison and not sure Prem clubs will take such a risk right now, but if he bangs them in in the Championship maybe someone will make an offer that is enough for Town to cash in (i expect over £5m will be required - I and other Town fans would be disappointed if not).

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Robsy
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Jun 27, 11:22
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I stand corrected - didn't realise he had extended his contract.... Still agree with you that Huddersfield will want more than £2m plus Morrison...I still think reckon £4m plus Morrison would do it?

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