Bacuna, McNulty And Meyler Depart

31 January 2019
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Leandro Bacuna has signed for Premier League strugglers Cardiff City for a rumoured three million pounds as Royals boss Jose Gomes had a player clear out on transfer deadline day. Bacuna leaves Reading after one and a half season's at the club, arriving from Aston Villa in the summer of 2017. Bacuna made 66 appearances in a Reading shirt and scored five times.

Striker Marc McNulty was also out of the door, signing on loan for Scottish side Hibernian after failing to make an impact at Reading. After Paul Clement signed him in the summer from Coventry he has managed just six starts and only scored a single goal. Meanwhile out of favour David Meyler moves to Coventry City on loan until the end of the season.

The three players leave after Gomes saw Tiago Ilori move back to Sporting Lisbon on a permanent move earlier this week. Fellow defender Gabriel Osho also heads out on loan to Bristol City as Gomes slims down his squad.

Tuesday night's 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers saw Gomes hand debuts to new signings striker Nelson Oliveira, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and central defender Matt Miazga. All three players come into the club on loan - Oliveira from Norwich City, Martinez from Arsenal and Miazga from Chelsea.

It has been a busy week at Reading, and the departures follow the three new players coming in to make a very different looking starting eleven on Tuesday night. It appeared to be a positive move as Reading looked set to pick-up a rare three points until a stoppage time Bolton equaliser. Oliveira scored his first goal in nearly a year from the penalty spot and it had looked to be enough.

With Oliveira and Miazga coming in, it is no surprise that McNulty and Ilori were allowed to leave. Osho leaves to pick up experience and you feel he may have a future at Reading. However, it is disappointing to lose Leandro Bacuna who has looked a decent player in recent months.

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