Reading FC

Reading FC join the race for Nottingham Forest star

By Jonny Fordham
May 04, 2012

Nottingham Forest's player-of-the-season Garath McCleary is in talks over a possible free transfer to Reading.

The 24-year-old winger scored nine goals this season, including four in one game as Forest beat Leeds United 7-3 at Elland Road in March.

Quick, powerful and skilful, McCleary is out of contract this summer and is allowed to talk to prospective clubs.

A former non-league star, McCleary was a trainee at Oxford United before he was released and snapped up by Slough Town – both former clubs of Royals boss Brian McDermott.

Reading, though, will face competition from fellow Premier League clubs West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City and Wigan.

McCleary said recently: “It would be nice to play in the Premier League.

“I think any player would want to play there at some stage of their career.

“If it was with Forest, then brilliant, but I can’t say what the future will hold. We’ll see what happens.”

McDermott has wasted no time in planning for life in the Premier League, but has taken time away from footballing matters this week by joining the rest of his squad in Marbella, Spain.

Reading return from their promotion party today and McDermott is expected to get back to work with director of football Nick Hammond as they try to bring in their first signing of the summer.

| View Comments (10)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Most recent user comments 10 of 10

7 comments posted and not one about the actual article.....typical of the people on this forum.Mr Fordham as with all jurno's will get information/rumours from all sources (like hobnob) and distribute them to a wider audience and I thank him for that as it saves me reading all the sites. All I've read in the last few days from the posters is all negative and mentioning relegation already...get a life and enjoy the moment.

up for debate, lost
04/05/2012 at 17:55

Southbank Dave -- I was gonna say!

I think Mullins could do a job however - the next two or three weeks could prove interesting with transfers and so-on.

No news from the Premier League on Mr Z as of yet?

Robsy , Reading
04/05/2012 at 16:57

Come on Jams, explain yourself or be discredited!!

Tilidie, Reading
04/05/2012 at 16:33

Can't imagine he'd cost much, or do we go with someone a bit younger?

- my bad - was referring to Mullins.....

Southbank Dave
04/05/2012 at 15:29

Jams, how do you know he has no sources and just relied on the forum?

Reading1987
04/05/2012 at 14:33

Can't imagine he'd cost much, or do we go with someone a bit younger?

Southbank Dave
04/05/2012 at 14:26

We do need some players with Premier experience or we will be back in the Championship after one season.

Tilehurst Ender, Spencers wood
04/05/2012 at 13:23

Not my point. My point is he has no genuine sources. He often relies on the forum and then goes to print. I'm certainly not jealous of the guy. I'm just disappointed in his lack of genuine sources and his lazy all to often lazy journalism.

For what it's worth, I don't post on HNA but do read it, and the regulars on there are aware of Fordham and his ripping off of rumours and as a result often create nonsense just for Jonny's benefit, and low and behold it does appear on here...

If he actually put some real effort into his work and built some relationships in the media, he would gain some credibility, and not be the source of mockery from many.

Jams, Reading
04/05/2012 at 13:13

Just because it was on Hob Nob does not mean it can not be on here! Never got in to Hob Nob so more than happy to read it here. Think people are just jealous of the great job writing about Reading would be