Reading are poised to bring Sam Smith back to Berkshire, five years after his last appearance, according to reports.
The 25-year-old scored twice in 11 appearances after breaking through the Academy but failed to hold down a first-team place.
Moving on in 2021, the striker has scored more than 30 goals for Cambridge United in the past two seasons and departed the Abbey Stadium a free agent last month.
🚨 FI SOURCES! 🚨 - Reading set to win race for former Cambridge striker Sam Smith. 🏁
— Football Insider (@footyinsider247) July 17, 2023
✍: @SportsPeteO#ReadingFC #CUFC
According to Football Insider, the Royals are leading the race for the forward, while former Reading Chronicle journalist Courtney Friday added that Ruben Selles' side have overtaken Portsmouth in the hunt.
Free transfer, knows the club. Good goal return in L1 last season. Offers something different to AC2. Seems relatively risk-free. Told he was close to joining Portsmouth but Royals very much now leading the chase.
— Courtney Friday (@cfridayjourno) July 17, 2023
Probably be unveiled as a Pompey player in 20 mins 🤣 #readingfc
Just three weeks remain until the first match of the third tier campaign, with Andy Carroll and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan the obvious choices for the striker role.
The club's only signing of the summer to date is former U's teammate Harvey Knibbs.
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