Royals fail with Smith bid

Anthony Smith • Published 6 Jul 2009 16:10 Comments 1 Comment

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READING will have to more than double their money to land Watford target Tommy Smith.

The Royals last week failed with a bid of about £800,000 which Hornets chairman Jimmy Russo branded 'derisory.'

And since then it is rumoured they have accepted a whopping £1.8 million from Sheffield United for the 29-year-old striker who has one year left on his contract.

Reports suggest Smith is now one of three players in talks with the Blades including his Watford team-mate John Joe O"Toole plus Bristol City"s Michael McIndoe.

Wolves have also tabled a bid but the Chronicle understands ex-Sunderland and Derby star Smith is ready to reject a return to the Premier League and would prefer a move to Reading where he would team-up with former Hornets manager Brendan Rodgers once again.

However, unless the Royals go back with a massively improved offer they could end up losing the battle to sign Smith whose 17 goals last season saved Watford from the drop.

Reading are in the market for a new striker following Kevin Doyle"s club record £6.5 million move to Wolves last week.

And Rodgers confirmed: 'Losing Kevin means we are looking to bring someone in. He scored 18 goals last season and when you lose that you have to replace it.

'We"re doing our best and we are confident something will happen soon.'

However, the Blades appear to be in pole position and Russo added: 'We"ve received a new bid for Tommy and we will allow him to speak to the club in question.

'This is a new club that has expressed a desire to sign Tommy.'

If Rodgers fails to land Smith he could go for his Watford team-mate, Tamas Priskin, while Leeds United"s Robert Snodgrass is another possibility.

Rodgers may also launch an audacious bid to bring Nottingham Forest"s Nathan Tyson back to the Madejski Stadium to replace want-away Stephen Hunt.

Woodley-born Tyson, 27, rose through the youth ranks with Reading when Rodgers was in charge of the Academy and Forest may be willing to let him go for about £1 million.

Rodgers is keen to strengthen the wide positions as Glen Little has left and is now training with Sheffield United while Hunt is almost certain to go in the next few weeks with Sunderland and Wigan favourites to land him.

'Stephen has been ready to go for the last year,' explained Rodgers. I want to help him get the club he wants.'

Meanwhile, with Andre Bikey rumoured to be attracting interest from French giants Marseille, Royals are also on the look-out for centre backs.

Chelsea youngsters Jack Cork, Ryan Bertrand and Michael Mancienne - who all played under Rodgers during his spell in charge of the Blues" Academy - fit the bill.

Cork also had a successful loan spell under Rodgers at Watford and the Royals" boss said: 'Jack Cork knows how I work. He did an excellent job for me.'

Rodgers is keen to bring players in as quickly as possible with the squad due to begin pre-season training this week.

EX-READING skipper Graeme Murty is training with Southampton.

Murty was one of four players released at the end of their contracts along with Marcus Hahnemann, Leroy Lita and Michael Duberry.

Hahnemann has been snapped up by Wolves and League One Southampton are eyeing up 34-year-old Murty.

Saints boss Mark Wotte said: 'Graeme is a very experienced defender and we are looking at him.'

Meanwhile, tickets to Murty"s testimonial are now on general sale through the Reading FC ticket office.

Murty will celebrate his 11 years at the club with a nostalgic night of football at the Madejski Stadium on Monday, July 20 (8pm).

The game will feature the current Reading side against the Royals squad that won the 2005/06 Championship title with a record 106 points.

Tickets cost £10 adults and £5 concessions and Murty will donate a large chunk of the proceeds to the Swings and Smiles charity. Call 0844 249 1871 or visit www.readingfc.co.uk

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Sean
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Jul 8, 12:32
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