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Birmingham City centre-back Curtis Davies is being tracked by Reading FC
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Reading FC tracking Birmingham City's Curtis Davies

By Jonny Fordham
January 25, 2013

Birmingham City centre-back Curtis Davies is being tracked by Reading.

Cash-strapped Blues are looking to off-load some of their most valuable assets and the 27-year-old defender has been the subject of an approach by Royals boss Brian McDermott.

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“I asked a question, you ring people regularly about certain players,” confirmed McDermott.

“But as it stands there is nothing (in the pipeline). We have four centre-backs here and other players who can play there.”

McDermott knows if he waits until the final day of the transfer window on Thursday it is likely he could snap up the former England international for a knockdown price.

However, Reading are unlikely to want to match his current wage demands of around £28,000 per week.

But with Academy product Alex Pearce still stalling on signing a new deal at Madejski Stadium, Royals are looking at all their options.

The transfer saga of TP Mazembe centre-back Stopilla Sunzu also looks set to drag on with his club insisting that the Zambia star is under contract until 2015.

“They have him until 2015 is what they are saying, that’s all I know,” said McDermott who had a closer look at the 6ft 3ins defender during a four-day trial last week.

“We will either do something or we won’t, I don’t know what’s happening at the moment.

“He’s a great guy and we’ve known him since he was very young.

“I imagine that, knowing this window as I do, next week will be interesting. We could do something, it’s a possibility.

“We’ve had inquiries for players, but nothing of any note. We shall see what happens after the game on Saturday. Quite exciting, isn’t it?”

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Hopeful: I'd rather have pearce than davies. So would most on here

Urz Urz
27/01/2013 at 04:24

Player wages are indeed way too high, cavlad. That's why the vast majority of all football clubs are running at a loss. These losses are only sustainable if the club in question has a sugar daddy prepared to chuck money at it with no hope of getting it back.

I'd say that Fulham are a similar sized club to us, and Al Fayed has spunked getting on for 100 million in total there. The problem for Fulham is the same as everyone else's. If Al Fayed dies/runs out of money/loses interest? What happens if someone else doesn't step in and continue in the same vein?

Exactly what is happening to Birmingham in this instance, that's what. I expect to see a lot more of this kind of thing in the future as club owners slowly come to their senses and realise that unless their club is run along proper business lines, they will finish up skint.

You may regard RFC as a cinderella club if you wish, but if it's run sensibly, your great great granchildren will still be able to watch the Royals.

ray northstander
26/01/2013 at 09:00

We are always going to be a Cinderella club, we will drop and our excuse for not being able to keep the players. Too expensive have to sell to survie the players wages are to high. That is the RFC way. I will get bagged for this comment, and thank you for the compliments.

cavlad007
25/01/2013 at 18:14

Robsy - That's a disaster for any club who aspire to produce players of their own. Prepare for an exodus of players to our near neighbours, and possibly others, who've achieved Cat1.

Any comment from the club on what constitutes an epic failure and any information on the the reasons why we were rejected?

We've been told that we've invested millions in the Academy and that everything there is top class. Evidently the inspectors disagreed.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
25/01/2013 at 15:56

Either way it looks like we're after a CB or two, otherwise why the fuss with Sunzu?

Having a stronger set of bodies there may even allow McD to go back to his 442 setup? Sad to say but Gorkss isn't the player of last season either, so really we only have 3 CBs. Stick in a couple of injuries or cards and we're in trouble.

It looks like Sunzu's club may have botched his move with the clanger about his contract.

Regardless of what league we're in next season and if we can get the wages to fit, a player like Davies would be invaluable. He's also far more experienced than Pearce and would likely displace him.

This could just be smoke without fire? Much like McD "nearly going to Wolves" last season, is maybe the club forcing his hand? If Pearce or his agent really think he's better than Agger or Skrtel then SJM can rightly laugh him out the boardroom in my opinion. Then again no wonder Buck bought Rasiak?!

Hopeful Hoops, Reading
25/01/2013 at 14:47

We can offer what we like, but at the end of the day, we can't compete wages wise or glamour wise with one of the most famous football teams in the world.

ray northstander
25/01/2013 at 14:43

I think you would be shocked by how much some of the RFC players are getting. I would imagine Pearce would want at least 20k a week, but probabaly more like 30k.

James Williams
25/01/2013 at 14:08

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2896/premier-league/2013/01/25/3699412/-

No Category One Status for Reading Academy....

Robsy , Reading
25/01/2013 at 14:04

I think the best new signing in January will be the new coach - if he is allowed to do things his way.

Many fans are against 4-4-2 preferring 4-5-1 but the FA Cup win over Crawley and all the goals against WBA and Newcastle came when we changed to 4-4-2.

It's the stlye more than the formation that has caused the problems. Evidence at Newcastle when new signing Hope was in the opposition penalty area and sold a perfect dummy!

How many times this season have we seen one of our midfielders in the opposition box?

well, well, well
25/01/2013 at 13:34

Would think Pearce would sign for between 10 - 20k a week tomorrow...

A. XYZ
25/01/2013 at 13:06

28k a week for Alex Pearce? You guys are out of your mins

Dog Leg
25/01/2013 at 12:42

lets give Pearce the 28k a week instead

Martin Cairns
25/01/2013 at 12:29

if i'm honest i don't want Curtis Davis, would get Morro back before Davis is given a chance, so he would be at least fourth choice, whats the point of paying wages for that? leave this one please Reading fc!

Martin Cairns
25/01/2013 at 12:24

Pearce needs to sign.

He's still giving it all on the pitch, looks like he wants to stay and is even giving little sounbites for the club website about kicking on etc