Reading FC

Nottingham Forest winger Garath McCleary is likely to be Reading FC's first signing of the summer
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McCleary snubs Nottingham Forest for Reading FC

By Jonny Fordham
May 16, 2012

Reading look to have won the race to sign Garath McCleary from Nottingham Forest on a free transfer.

Forest have admitted defeat in their battle to keep hold of the 24-year-old winger, who was named their player of the season.

As exclusively revealed on www.getreading.co.uk on Friday, McCleary has completed a medical at Royals and is now finalising terms on a three-year deal that will bring him to Madejski Stadium.

Oxford-born McCleary has turned down £10,000 a week to stay at the City Ground, more than double his current £4,000-a-week deal, in favour of a reported £15,000 a week salary at Reading.

And the former non-league star, who played for Slough Town and Oxford United – both former clubs of manager Brian McDermott – fits the mould of a Reading signing perfectly.

“The players we bring in will have hunger and work hard every day and in every game,” said McDermott who began working on bringing in players for next season even before the last campaign ended.

He said: “We’re after players to add to what we have. We won’t be bringing in anybody who can upset the apple cart. It’s not the way we do things.”

Follow Royals reporter Jonny Fordham on Twitter here

McDermott watched Reading centre-back Sean Morrison play on loan for Huddersfield Town as they beat MK Dons 2-0 in the semi-finals of the League One play-offs on Saturday.

Huddersfield’s star striker Jordan Rhodes is also a player McDermott is keeping close tabs on.

Rhodes notched his 39th goal in 44 appearances in front of the Reading boss.

Royals have also been linked with Tottenham Hotspur striker Jermaine Defoe, but the former England forward would command a large transfer fee plus £60,000 a week on wages.

Blackburn Rovers’ out-of-contract forward Junior Hoilett is also said to be on Royals’ radar, but is also being tracked by a number of top Premier League clubs.

McDermott is also keen to give as many current members of his squad the chance to shine in the top flight, just like Swansea and Norwich City bosses Brendan Rodgers and Paul Lambert did this season.

He said: “We want them to give the guys here every opportunity.”

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Most recent user comments 5 of 5

So both Norwich and Swansea signed a number of players prior to the start of their first premier league season, but how many of those players were regular starters during the season and how many were essentially just squad players?

The truth is that both Norwich and Swansea survived in the Premier League this season by regularly starting 7/8 of the players that got them promotion and its also worth keeping in mind that some of their most important signings were only brought in on loan - e.g. Naughton, Caulker and of course Gylfi.

I can't see the point of signing a load of players who aren't going to play.

Rh3, Reading
16/05/2012 at 12:48

So hasnt signed yet then?

Bushes Bernal
16/05/2012 at 11:21

Norwich City (10 players) Daniel Ayala, Kyle Naughton, Anthony Pilkington, Bradley Johnson, Elliott Bennett, James Vaughan, Ritchie de Laet, Steve Morison, Jonny Howson, Ryan Bennett

Swansea City (15 players) Vangelis Moras, Darnel Situ, Fede Bessone, Gerhard Tremmel, Rafik Halliche, Michel Vorm, Wayne Routledge, Leroy Lita, Jose Moreira, Danny Graham, Steven Caulker, Curtis Obeng, Josh McEachran, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Rory Donnelly

RFC4EVA, reading
16/05/2012 at 11:08

Notice Wikipedia has been updated with McCleary's signing already before the OS has even announced this!!!!!

Big P, Reading
16/05/2012 at 11:01

There is no room for sentiment in the Prem. If most/a lot of the current crop are not going to cut it there - which they won't - then they must be replaced with players who will.

Remember both Swansea and Norwich signed 8 or 9 new players close season before their first season in the Prem. Contrary to public belief, they did not rely on their squads that got them up.

Be warned.