Rumour - Ross McCormack

[WoodleyRoyal]

READING FC boss Jaap Stam wants to hijack Sunderland's bid to sign Aston Villa flop Ross McCormack, according to reports.

Villa boss Steve Bruce is understood to be keen on ousting McCormack from Villa Park less than 12 months after his £12m move from Fulham.

The 30-year-old failed to settle into life in the midlands and was loaned to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest in January after missing training. The striker later claimed he had a problem with his electronic gates.

McCormack, who has three years left on his contract at Villa Park, has attracted interest from Sunderland boss Simon Grayson. The former Preston North End boss is also on the verge of securing former Royals loanee Lewis Grabban on a season-long deal.

However, reports today state that Royals' boss Stam is also keen on landing McCormack's signature and could offer him a move back to the south-east.

Stam has already added Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to his strike force but with Yann Kermorgant out for the beginning of the season at least, the Dutchman has found himself short of options.

Stam was tracking Brighton forward Tomer Hemed but Chris Hughton rejected a £4m bid from the Royals, claiming the striker was going nowhere.

Now it appears Stam has turned his attention to McCormack, who scored three goals in 22 appearances for Villa last season.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport ... signature/

[The Informant]

Can only play in a two up front.

[Royalwaster]

READING FC boss Jaap Stam wants to hijack Sunderland's bid to sign Aston Villa flop Ross McCormack, according to reports.

Villa boss Steve Bruce is understood to be keen on ousting McCormack from Villa Park less than 12 months after his £12m move from Fulham.

The 30-year-old failed to settle into life in the midlands and was loaned to Championship rivals Nottingham Forest in January after missing training. The striker later claimed he had a problem with his electronic gates.

McCormack, who has three years left on his contract at Villa Park, has attracted interest from Sunderland boss Simon Grayson. The former Preston North End boss is also on the verge of securing former Royals loanee Lewis Grabban on a season-long deal.

However, reports today state that Royals' boss Stam is also keen on landing McCormack's signature and could offer him a move back to the south-east.

Stam has already added Jon Dadi Bodvarsson to his strike force but with Yann Kermorgant out for the beginning of the season at least, the Dutchman has found himself short of options.

Stam was tracking Brighton forward Tomer Hemed but Chris Hughton rejected a £4m bid from the Royals, claiming the striker was going nowhere.

Now it appears Stam has turned his attention to McCormack, who scored three goals in 22 appearances for Villa last season.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/sport ... signature/

In other words Stam is getting a bit desperate ...

[Snowflake Royal]

If we could get him for about 2/3rds what they paid he'd be about normal level of overpriced and maybe worth it. But I can't see us spending £8m or Villa acceptingn a £4m loss.

[John Smith]

Yes! Get him in. Great news

[billybraggsbeard]

No no no, mercenary overweight over-rated, injury prone, stroppy jock , who was good at Fulham, but not since, also now 30 so career is probably on wa(y)ne

[CountryRoyal]

I'd honestly rather get Akpan back and play him up front.

[bcubed]

Awful idea

Please God No

[From Despair To Where?]

Can only play in a two up front.

He struggles with 2 up front at the end of his drive, never mind a football pitch.

[paultheroyal]

Would be a quality signing if he buys into the Stam / Reading way.

Get it done Jaap.

[royal madrid]

I'd honestly rather get Akpan back and play him up front.

Hope springs eternal...

[John Smith]

Would be a quality signing if he buys into the Stam / Reading way.

Get it done Jaap.

Thank you.

120 goals at Championship level - open your eyes people

[paultheroyal]

Would be a quality signing if he buys into the Stam / Reading way.

Get it done Jaap.

Thank you.

120 goals at Championship level - open your eyes people

Clearly a class act, in prime as striker. Clearly has some issues, we as a club can sort them.

Leeds and Fulham can then hate us some more!

[JimmytheJim]

Basically ALF without the premier league goals.

No thanks.

[Sutekh]

Bit harsh! In the right team he scores goals for fun. Believe he has a 1 in 3 strike rate even including his wasted time at Villa. He scored shed loads at this level for Cardiff, Leeds and Fulham (and remember you can't get any bigger than Fulham, apart from Barcelona and Hove Albion of course).

A lot of players make moves in their careers that just don't work out and bear in mind the manager who bought him for Villa was sacked soon afterwards so perhaps he just doesn't fit with Mr Bruce.

I would say he's worth a punt at the right price but as a previous caller stated I can't see Villa accepting an offer anywhere near what we (and probably Reading) would consider the "right price".

Perhaps a loan move might be an option.

[maffff]

Bit harsh! In the right team he scores goals for fun. Believe he has a 1 in 3 strike rate even including his wasted time at Villa.

Same rate as Grabban, I believe?

[linkenholtroyal]

Bit harsh! In the right team he scores goals for fun. Believe he has a 1 in 3 strike rate even including his wasted time at Villa.

Same rate as Grabban, I believe?

Have you seen how fat he has got these days?
One of stams training sessions and he will keel over and have a heart attack.

[Oilroyal]

Bruce will try and offload him from his wage bill this summer, the two clearly have issues with one another.

At a guess and as there are few clubs interested in McCormack, the fee could be as little as £4m BUT the buying club will undertake the remainder of his Villa wage contract, another 3yrs at 50K a week which is £1.8m.

At that money, he’s in our price range and could be considered cheap in today's market. I can see why we’re being linked to him although he’d be a massive risk, a £5.8 million pound 3 yr gamble.

I like his goal scoring record, but not his recent past record.

maybe a try before you buy deal until January?

[windermereROYAL]

Print the 44 shirt, that's the only number he wears, f*ck knows why.

[Lower West]

Not sure he's Stam type of player. Attitude wise. Has become a journeyman of a player. Despite his goal scoring record. Suggesting he is more trouble than he is worth.