Reading FC

Brian McDermott made Derby County forward Tomasz Cywka his first signing under the new regime
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McDermott to spend transfer cash wisely

By Jonny Fordham
January 27, 2012

Reading's astute transfer policy won’t go out of the window following Russian millionaire Anton Zingarevich’s impending takeover at the club.

Royals boss Brian McDermott insists that he will stick to his mantra of leaving no stone unturned when it comes to bringing players to Madejski Stadium

The takeover bid from Thames Sports Investment (TSI) means the manager will have cash to spend, but he has also stressed that he will not be signing players for the sake of it.

He said: “I would always look to sign a player subject to meeting them.

“If I met him and didn’t feel he was right for us then I wouldn’t sign him.

“I do everything before making a signing. I speak to anybody and everybody.

“Anyone who has worked with me before I will pick the phone up to and will always speak to people to find out everything about a player.

“I used to do that as a scout and that doesn’t change now I’m a manager. I think that’s really important.”

McDermott made Derby County forward Tomasz Cywka his first signing under the new regime, bringing in the 23-year-old on a free transfer.

“I like him as a lad and he’s a really good type,” he said.

“He turned down a three-and-a-half year deal in Poland to play here until the end of the season. That’s a real credit to him.

“He thinks this is a really good opportunity for him and that means he will be hungry for it.”

Royals have also warned opposition clubs that they will not be held to ransom in their hunt for new players.

McDermott spoke about a number of agents that had come out of the woodwork and got in touch with him since the news broke about the injection of cash from the new investors.

And one deal that doesn’t look like it will be completed, is the signing of Brentford centreback Karleigh Osborne.

McDermott added: “He’s someone that we’ve looked at, but I’m not sure it will happen.

“We sent Sean Morrison out on loan to Huddersfield and we needed to cover that, but I’ve got Bongani Khumalo and Brynjar Gunnarsson as well as Ian Harte, so it may not happen. There are other reasons as well.”

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Apparently the Osborne transfer was called off cos the lad failed the medical as he hadn't properly recovered from a recent leg injury.

LarryS
27/01/2012 at 14:35

Having sent Morrison out on loan and decided not to pursue Osborne, the so called cover we have left at centre back is worryingly thin. Bryn, great player but ageing. Likewise Harte + really slow. As for the other one, Harry really did us on that loan! Are we sure we got sent the real player because he has never looked like it?!

HARB
27/01/2012 at 14:02

sounds as if his agent and brentford heard hammonds voice on the phone and thought they were having a lottery win, so fair play mr. mcd.

the only thing is when british clubs feel you have money they over inflate the value of their players, ring any bells mr. madejski.

this is what is wrong fundementally with the english game now, average english players cost bags of money, hence the premiership filled with foreign average players, so hardly any young english talent gets to make through to the top flight. if players such as oxlade chamberlain and walcot cost 8 figure sums then players like jordan rhodes then get an over inflated 7 igure price without proving themselves at a higher level. hence i fear with even the investment we still will find it hard to sign players of quality and potential, especially with our spending policy.

but fair play to brian for sticking to his principals and telling osbourne to shove it when both he and rosler got greedy, it may act as a warning to other clubs, agents and players in the future.