Reading Summer Transfer Guide: What the Royals Need in the Window

Under new ownership and new management, Reading's summer transfer plans have probably changed once or twice in the last few weeks. Even more so now because of their relegation back down to the Championship. 

They will of, course, be receiving roughly £60 million in parachute payments; £23 million of it will be released to them in the close season and with a young, ambitious owner, they will probably have a large portion of that at their disposal. 

The Royals' main target, first and foremost, is to keep the body of players who are there at the moment and use some of the funds for new contracts. There is a decent nucleus of a side who enjoy playing football and, at Championship level, should prove to be difficult opponents for the sides already in that league.

Reading's underlying issue, though, is a lack of discipline in the middle of the park. Their most damning statistic that they will leave the Premier League with, is their goal difference, which currently stands at -26 with a couple of games to go, and that is something Nigel Adkins will need to rectify.

That too includes 67 goals shipped in the season, the joint worst in the league, so shoring up the back line will be one of the main priorities in the summer transfer window.

They can, at least, take the some positives moving into next season. Namely, Adam le Fondre, whose goals to games ratio this season has been something to admire when playing in a struggling side.

The attacking prowess, as a whole, has been encouraging for Reading, and if they can hold onto the likes of le Fondre, Jobi McAnuff, Jimmy Kebe and Pavel Pogrebnyak, then they have reason to be optimistic on the offensive front for next campaign. 

The biggest challenge for Adkins then, is to bolster the defensive contingency of the Reading squad. The club's new owner, Anton Zigarevich, seems to be an ambitious man who will support Adkins, but they need to be singing from the same hymn sheet. 

It is far trickier to entice players, of a certain level, to a club when they are in the Championship than it is when you can offer all the glitz and glamour of the Premier League.

Adkins will know this; it is probably why he was picked as Brian McDermott's successor as he earned his managerial stripes in the lower leagues and he knows what it takes to get out of them.

One thing you can be sure of is that Adkins will have targeted players already. He has an aging back four that needs a bit of rejuvenating and some pace. If Reading have designs on making a quick return to the top, then they will need pace in every department; something they have lacked in abundance this season.

A couple of young, hungry defenders and a central midfield talisman figure is what Reading are in need of. Adkins may well opt for the likes of the impressive Southampton left-back Luke Shaw and take him on loan for a season from his old club. His pace and power, that belies his years, would add that extra dimension.

Reading are a young and hungry club themselves. Former owner, now chairman, John Madjeski has passed over the baton to a new Royals era and they just need a couple of players to mirror their ambition.

The transfer window is a fervent time for most clubs but especially when you have to re-think about the caliber of player you are able to bring in, but if Reading can pick up a few loans or one or two reputable, established Championship players, they will strengthen their own cause and hinder an opponent's, thus making their pathway back to the promised land a whole lot easier.