News and Views
Matej Vydra, Ola John And Michael Hector All Confirmed
01 September 2015
By Hob Nob Anyone?
As reported earlier today, the expected moves of Matej Vydra, Ola John and Michael Hector have all been completed and confirmed as expected ahead of the close of the transfer window. Vydra arrives from Watford and John arrives from Benfica. Both players have been signed on a season long loan. Meanwhile, centre back Michael Hector becomes Reading's third loan signing of the day after he signed a permanent contract with Premier League Chelsea but was then immediately loaned back for the season. Hector joins new team mate Lucas Piazon who also joined Reading on loan from parent club Chelsea yesterday.
The day's activity means just Michael Hector has left the club permanently this week. The only other completed transfer for the Royals saw young midfielder Aaron Kuhl move to Scottish side Dundee United on loan until January 2016.
While there's no doubt that Steve Clarke and his team have been very busy in the transfer market the result is a side very reliant on loan players. In the space of two days, four players who will expect to feature regularly in the first team this season have arrived on season long loans. In another unusual twist Reading have paid somewhere in the region of 2.5 million pounds to Watford in order to borrow Matej Vydra this season. That money will be funded by the incoming 4 million that Chelsea have shelled out to get Michael Hector on their books.
Whatever the outcome of this season the team looks set to change dramatically again next summer. A promotion of course will mean those players have been successful at Reading and Clarke may try and make some of the moves permanent. Hector of course will be looking to impress at Reading to give himself a chance of breaking into the first team at Chelsea.
Matej Vydra could be the missing piece of the Steve Clarke Reading FC jigsaw. Defensively Reading have been excellent this season, and we've also created chances. However, scoring goals has been a big issue since Clarke arrived at Reading half way through last season.
Vydra is a young, exciting player that is already scoring goals - including plenty in the Championship for Watford. He has had two loan spells at Watford from Italian Serie A club Udinese before signing permanently this summer. His Watford career already includes 38 senior goals. He also has 3 Premier League goals on his record from a loan spell at West Bromwich Albion. Although only 23 he has won 15 senior International caps for the Czech Republic, scoring four goals.
Dutch forward player Ola John is also 23 and another exciting prospect worth far more money than Reading could currently afford. His loan signing is a major achievement for Reading as he has been a feature of Portuguese club Benfica's starting eleven already this season. He also has plenty of experience after signing a five year contract with Benfica in 2012 after arriving from Twente. He has also had a loan spell at Hamburg. Potential is the keyword for both Vydra and John as they arrive at Reading for the season.
Clarke will have plenty of players to choose from - but will need to take care with his team selection. The Football League state in their regulations: "A maximum of 5 loan Players (Standard, International, Emergency or Youth) can be named in the Players listed on a team sheet for any individual match played under the auspices of The League."
Clarke may now be using his maximum quota of loan players on a weekly basis as he tries to build his new look Reading FC team. Interesting times should be ahead - and hopefully goalless home fixtures will soon be a thing of the past.
Reading's Loan Players:
- Matej Vydra (from Watford)
- Ola John (from Benfica)
- Michael Hector (from Chelsea)
- Lucas Piazon (from Chelsea)
- Alex Fernandez (from Espanyol)
- Andrew Taylor (from Wigan)
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