19 May 2023
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Many first team players are set to leave the club this summer after their contracts expired. With Reading relegated to League One, and with an obvious lack of funds, the Royals have been forced to cut the squad and allow a big chunk of the squad to depart and find new clubs. The departure list includes Shane Long and Lucas Joao. Neither is a surprise with Joao making his feelings clear ahead of his departure. Shane Long was only expected to play last season after making his return to the Royals and was given a warm send off in Reading's final home game despite the Royals facing relegation.
Lucas Joao spent four years at Reading after signing from Sheffield Wednesday in the summer of 2019. He had some very impressive spells of form, particularly in the 2020/2021 season in which he started with a League Cup hattrick in the first game of the season and went on to score 22 goals in all competitions. His form in following seasons was up and down, but he still scored 45 goals in his time at Reading. Shane Long will always be remembered for his first spell at the club rather than this season when he re-joined Reading towards the end of his career. Long made 30 league appearances this season but only managed a single league goal, plus one in the FA Cup. However, despite failing to make an impression this season he will always be remembered as a Reading legend.
Liam Moore leaves the club after a very public falling out saw him spent 2022 in exile. He made a short comeback in Reading colours in March this year, which was cut short by injury and will now have to find a new club after being a Reading player since 2016. Scott Dann, Luke Southwood and Dejan Tetek also leave at the end of their contracts.
Reading relied heavily on long players this season and all these players will now return to their clubs. Joe Lumley, Jeff Hendrick, Mamadou Loum, Baba Rahman, Tyrese Fornah and Cesare Casadei have all been key players this season and their return will leave Reading with a lot of rebuilding to do this summer.
In more positive news Nesta Guinness-Walker has extended his contract to the end of next season. The Royals are waiting to see if Yakou Meite, Junior Hoilett and Amadou Mbengue accept new contract offers or choose to find new clubs. They may of course be keen to avoid a drop into the third tier of English football.
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