Harper move back on

Anthony Smith • Published 13 Aug 2009 16:20 0 Comments

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JAMES Harper's move to Wolverhampton Wanderers could be back on.

Reading boss Brendan Rodgers has revealed a deal to take Harper to Molineux could be resurrected.

Royals agreed a fee of around £2 million with Wolves for the 28-year-old midfielder last week.

Harper travelled to Molineux for talks with their manager Mick McCarthy, but the move appeared to break down.

However, McCarthy was at the Madejski Stadium again on Tuesday night to watch Harper in action in Reading's impressive 5-1 Carling Cup demolition of Burton Albion.

It is now believed McCarthy will launch another attempt to nab Harper, who is Reading's longest-serving player.

Rodgers confirmed: "James spoke to Wolves. He's now back here. Things have gone a little quiet but we will have to wait and see.

"A fee was agreed and we gave him permission to speak to them. Obviously, Mick was at our game the other night and I think it's getting towards that period in the transfer window when there is much more speculation. At the moment he is a Reading player."

It was suggested Harper's move may have been broken down following his medical, but Rodgers firmly dismissed that theory out of hand.

It is believed the former Royals skipper is unconvinced that leaving the club is right for him.

"He's working well and his movement was good the other night, so it certainly wasn't fitness," insisted Rodgers.

"It was the move where it failed because the other night he was first class in terms of his running ability."

Royals director Nick Hammond also confirmed: "Mick McCarthy was at the game on Tuesday night.

"We spoke, but not about James Harper. We talked about pre-season and stuff.

"I suppose people will have to draw their own conclusions as to why he was there. But I will not be making any further comment."

Reading have raked in £10 million in transfer fees this summer by selling Kevin Doyle to Wolves for £6.5 million and Stephen Hunt to Hull City for around £3.5 million.

Hunt's transfer went through this morning and Royals could now be set to boost their coffers again should they sell Harper, who cost around £400,000 from Arsenal in 2001, and Andre Bikey.

Rodgers has confirmed a bid thought to be in the region of £3 million has been made for the Cameroon international.

Clarets boss Owen Coyle is said to be a big admirer of the powerful centre-back and reports this morning say he is set for a move to Turf Moor.

Rodgers said: "We've had a couple of enquiries with regards to Andre. We've taken that on board. We've had an offer and we'll wait and see on that one."

But he also insisted: "If anyone goes it is going to take an extraordinary deal or the chance for them to play at a bigger level.

"I haven't got people banging on my door, crying to go. If anything it is the opposite.

"There may be some players who are forced to go. For example, if someone like Wolves come in it means Premier League football.

"But the reality could be that the player wants to stay. That's why it's so difficult for the player. But for me as a manager, I've had 150% commitment from the first day."

Harper would become the third Reading player to leave Reading for Wolves this summer after Doyle and Marcus Hahnemann.

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