YAKOU Meite insists he wants to be a Reading FC player next season despite almost quitting the club in January, writes Courtney Friday.

The Ivorian forward, who scored the opener in Royals’ 2-1 win over Preston on Saturday, was on the verge of a move during the January transfer window.

In fact, he would have been sold had club owner Dai Yongee not intervened and insisted he remained at Madejski Stadium.

And Meite, who signed a four-year deal earlier in the season, insists he is planning on staying in Berkshire beyond the end of Reading’s lacklustre season.

“Of course I want to be here. This is my first full season. I didn’t play a lot before this year.

“We will see what happens, but at the moment I’m happy here. I’ve forgotten about what happened in January, I’m a Reading player and that’s my priority.”

Meite is Reading’s top scorer this season with nine goals to his name so far.

He broke into the first-team under former boss Paul Clement after falling out of favour under previous manager Jaap Stam.

The 23-year-old continued: “This season has been very good for my career.

“The first year was difficult so I went out on loan to FC Socheux and now I’ve come back.

“I wanted to go and learn, get some game time and then come back and play for Reading.”

The versatile forward, who can be deployed as a striker or a winger, has found himself mostly on the right flank under current boss Jose Gomes.

And Meite admitted: “It was difficult when he first came in because of my position on the pitch.

“I think he’s found the best in me now for him and for me.

“Some people prefer me on the wing and some prefer me as a striker but for the manager – he lets me play on the wing and and do my thing.”