Reading manager Paul Ince is "hopeful" of bringing midfielder Mamadou Loum and defender Naby Sarr into the club ahead of the new season beginning next week.

So far the club have signed seven players, despite being under an embargo, and are wanting another four or five additions.

Porto midfielder Loum and former Huddersfield Town central defender Sarr are the latest to crop up, with the former England captain hoping to have both ahead of the season opner at Blackpool next week.

Speaking to the media after a 2-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion in pre-season, he said: "We need a midfield player, Jeff is an excellent addition, and Ty is still young- we need another defender, hopefully get that on Monday. It would be nice to get another striker in, but you don’t always get what want in this game.

"We’re looking at the centre-midfielder from Porto, hopefully he’ll come in, and Naby Sarr by Monday. We still need another four or five.

"If we get him [Loum], he’s a monster. You don’t play for Porto and at the Nou Camp if you’re not a good player. If we get him, I think he’ll be great."

Two players already at the club who are currently unavailable to the team are veterans Scott Dann and Shane Long.

Both picked up injuries during the pre-season and are expected to be missing for three and one week respectively.

"Scott Dann has had a great close season," Ince commented. "Vut comes back and pulls his calf so he’s out for another 2-3 weeks, Shane Long came on, got done in the back and he’s another week. These are players we are going to need in our circumstance."