RUMOUR - Dean Hammond

[rob the royal]

He says in today's EP that Reading are expected to move attention to Hammond after signing Ferdinand and Mackie, so next week for this one perhaps.

And NA comments on the rumour in the same article... doesn't say he's not interested.

[LoyalRoyal22]

Would be happy if we signed Hammond & sold Akpan.

[Esteban]

Would be happy if we signed Hammond & sold Akpan.

Agreed, but I don't think Akpan will move on until January at the earliest. Too many injuries in midfield.

[Sutekh]

Apparently just waiting for Leicester to complete the their "imminent" signing of Cambiasso then this should be a done deal

[Pepe the Horseman]

Can't we have Cambiasso instead?

[maffff]

Can't we have Cambiasso instead?

Don't be greedy Pepe. For that insubordination you can't even have Clayton wearing a Cambiasso mask.

[Agent Balti]

Can't we have Cambiasso instead?

Don't be greedy Pepe. For that insubordination you can't even have Clayton wearing a Cambiasso mask.

How about Akpan in a Clayton mask?

[maffff]

Akpan with a Clayton beard?

[Agent Balti]

Akpan with a Clayton beard?

Or Clayton with an Akpan bea...oh.

[MouldyRoyal]

Or Akpan with a tedious, overused "joke" stapled to his face.

[Magic Hat]

http://www.getreading.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/reading-fc-transfer-news-leicester-7609528

Reading FC transfer news: Leicester City midfielder Dean Hammond next on Adkins' wish list

Royals' boss is keen to add his former Southampton captain to the recent captures of Simon Cox, Jamie Mackie and Anton Ferdinand

Nigel Adkins wants to make Leicester City midfielder Dean Hammond his fourth signing of the summer transfer window.

Getreading.co.uk understands that the 31-year-old is next on Adkins’ wish-list following the captures of Simon Cox, Jamie Mackie and Anton Ferdinand in the past week.

Royals’ boss had Hammond with him during his time at Southampton and refused to rule out a move for his former skipper when asked about his interest.

He said: “Dean was an unbelievable captain and leader of Southampton.

“He was in a team that got promoted again to the Premier League last season.

“He’s a top man. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Hammond joined Leicester from Brighton last September and was a key part of the Foxes’ charge to the Championship title.

Although he only started seven games, he came off the bench 22 times as Nigel Pearson’s men were crowned champions.

But it is expected Pearson will reluctantly let the midfielder leave for a small fee this summer, as long as he can bring in a replacement.

Leicester are currently in talks to bring in former Argentina international midfielder Esteban Cambiasso.

The 33-year-old veteran, who is without a club after recently leaving Inter Milan, is said to be finalising terms on a two-year contract.

Once that deal is done, it is expected Reading will step up their interest in Hammond.

The experienced central midfielder fits the bill in terms of players Adkins is looking to bring to the club.

Reading’s manager wants to add experienced Championship-hardened stars to his young squad.

Centre-back Ferdinand arrived on Monday, signing a two-year deal at Madejski Stadium.

The 29-year-old was a free agent, having spent last season playing for Turkish side Antalyaspor.

He follows Cox and Mackie, who joined from Nottingham Forest at the end of last week.

[loyalroyal4life]

Least another week then before any potential movement

[maffff]

Or Akpan with a tedious, overused "joke" stapled to his face.

Where can I get one of these Floyd masks you speak of?

[Agent Balti]

Or Akpan with a tedious, overused "joke" stapled to his face.

Where can I get one of these Floyd masks you speak of?

POTY.

[M Brook]

Least another week then before any potential movement

So, add a 31 year old midfield reject from Leicester for a nominal fee who only started 7 games last season to a) an unattached CB on a free who couldn't find an English club to sign him so went to Turkey for a season and then had to go to Thailand to find a club that wanted him, and b) a Forest reject winger on loan described by Forest and QPR fans as 'a headless chicken' and who has arrived injured, and c) a striker who has scored 24 goals in 5 seasons who left us 6 years ago in a huff apparently vowing never to return (well at least until he'd run out of better offers) and whose transfer fee was covered by a sell-on fee, and you have our Summer transfer activity so far.

Exciting times!

[maffff]

Typical Reading signings. Happy with business so far.

[Royalwaster]

Typical Reading signings. Happy with business so far.

+1

Obviously some are upset we've not signed another guy whose claim to fame is having a youtube video of him driving like a nutter ...

[Nameless]

Least another week then before any potential movement

So, add a 31 year old midfield reject from Leicester for a nominal fee who only started 7 games last season to a) an unattached CB on a free who couldn't find an English club to sign him so went to Turkey for a season and then had to go to Thailand to find a club that wanted him, and b) a Forest reject winger on loan described by Forest and QPR fans as 'a headless chicken' and who has arrived injured, and c) a striker who has scored 24 goals in 5 seasons who left us 6 years ago in a huff apparently vowing never to return (well at least until he'd run out of better offers) and whose transfer fee was covered by a sell-on fee, and you have our Summer transfer activity so far.

Exciting times!

Sign an Yank keeper who is so bad he's decided to give up the game, a winger with mismatched legs and a season ticket to the physio's office, a couple of past it journeymen Icelandics, a lower division centre back with presence but no footballing ability and an odd shaped head, a kid out of Orient's reserves, two youngsters rejected by Arsenal now flogging themselves around on loan deals, some Irish no bodies, a past it showboating winger and a fragile Yank

Net result 106 points !

[maffff]

Stop it. You're getting me excited.

[M Brook]

Me too!