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Crawley Town midfield player Hope Akpan is expected to sign a three-and-a-half year deal with Reading FC today

Reading FC sign Hope Akpan from Crawley Town

By Jonny Fordham
January 08, 2013

Reading have signed midfielder Hope Akpan from Crawley Town.

Akpan, a former Everton trainee, had a medical at Hogwood today ahead of signing a three-and-a-half year deal.

It is understood the 21-year-old, who was out of contract in the summer, cost around £300,000.

Follow Royals reporter Jonny Fordham on Twitter here for all the news as it breaks

Akpan played for the Reds in their 3-1 FA Cup defeat to Brian McDermott's Royals on Saturday.

He has played 27 times this season, scoring six times - but he has also been branded with as many yellow cards and sent off twice.

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What a load of moaners, as usual. If RFC issued a statement saying, "We've signed a guy from Crawley, and thats' it now - transfer window over.", then you'd have a point... players will come and possibly even go in transfer windows. Judge the transfers at the end of the month and the team at the end of the season. I've been an RFC supporter since the late 60's and I know that the last ten years or so have definitely been a whole lot better than all the years before.

Colin Williams, Reading, Berks
14/01/2013 at 18:39

p.s. from the Club website: "Hope's age means we do not have to use a place for him in our 25-man Barclays Premier League squad, at 21 years old he is eligible to play in the top flight whilst sitting outside our named squad.". So if you lot want to pay for the club to sign Lampard or whoever it is you think we need, get your chequebooks out and give the club a call...

Colin Williams, Reading, Berks
14/01/2013 at 18:39

Blah, blah, blah ....... I give up! I wish you would! Whether we stay up or go down, we'll be around to fight another day. If things really are that bad, stop going and keep your groundless comments to yourself.

Jacob Marley, Reading
14/01/2013 at 12:32

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach - I think there will be more signings, either permanent or on loan. I agree that we should get then quickly to have maximum benefit, but I am just saying that we don't know if Akpan is being signed at the expense of other signings or in addition to other signings. We will only know that over the next few weeks.

Smiffy, Reading
09/01/2013 at 11:24

Just want to get my hopes up coach! i also saw that Tomas Rogic has been offered a trial at Celtic, bit disappointed as he looked like a good prospect!

Martin Cairns
09/01/2013 at 10:37

Martin Cairns - I'd say this is about as reliable as Adie's fitness record after signing a new contract.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
09/01/2013 at 10:22

Smiffy - You must be burdened with an incredibly low amazement threshold.

The idea is to sign players who can compete at this level and supporters are obviously not exactly overwhelmed with joy at the prospect of an additional 'one for the future' acquisition. Nothing wrong with the signing of Akpan in itself, but it shouldn't be at the expense of a player who can 'hit the ground running'.

You're absolutely correct that there are 23 days to go in window. Do you genuinely believe that we'll bring in even one player of proven Premier League class in what remains of January? I'd suggest it's rather important to get the players we require ASAP.

By the way, where are the 'we'll get 40 points' brigade? They were out in force in September, but appear to be Wintering away from Berkshire.

Michael Duberry's Defensive Coach
09/01/2013 at 10:18

BBC Berkshire (Adie Williams) reported this morning that Reading are and i quote 'interested in signing Danny Welbeck' from Manchester United, don't know about you guys but IF this were to happen it would install a bit of belief back for me!

Martin Cairns
09/01/2013 at 09:43

So; we play Crawley in the cup and sign Akpan. Next we play Sheffield Utd, so will we sign David 'what a bargain' Kitson afterwards? A player who knows the PL at least! Fans are understandably dissatisfied. BMD told us he wanted PL quality players, neither of the 2 signed nor the 1 waiting for a work permit fit that category. The Board have clearly settled for relegation and rebulding, and BMD is left to sing the 'we've come so far in 3 years song'. On the plus side, if we are relegated, we will need a manager who 'knows the championship', can avoid relegation to Div 1, and has play-off and Championship winning experience - and at least we've got one of those!!

Uncle Buck, Reading
09/01/2013 at 09:14

Smiffy, the fans were not the ones going on about aiming for Europe etc. The fact that every other Club has out spent Reading just proves that we don't belong in the PL.

Buying Championship standard players proves my case. '8 days into the window'? We have to buy early in the window, no point benefit in waiting, we need better players NOW.

Tilehurst Ender, Spencers wood
09/01/2013 at 06:38

An underwhelming transfer from an underwhelming club.

cav007, Caversham
09/01/2013 at 04:05

2 hopes now - and the other isn't Bob.

Barbie Q
08/01/2013 at 20:38

I'm amazed that so many people are so negative, especially as none of us have any idea which other signings may be in the pipeline. For those saying they deserve better because they buy a season ticket and invest in the club - do you know how far £400 goes at a football club? That pays half a days salary for one player. It is SJM and Anton who have spent real money and yes, as fans, we all want them to spend as much as possible, but as James Williams shows, spending big money doesn't guarantee success. Also, as I said earlier, we still have 23 days to go until the end of the transfer window, so it seems wrong to judge the club before we know the full story. Who knows that we haven't signed Beckham for an end of season cameo!!

Smiffy, Reading
08/01/2013 at 20:07

Same old Reading doing it on the cheap again! BM is losing the plot.

Tilehurst Ender, Spencers wood
08/01/2013 at 20:02

@ Big P. You know it, I know it and I'm sure McD would do it if given the chance. It is only eight days into the window though?

Personally if we don't get a win between now and march then I'll begin dusting off the old AA roadmap to Burnley. Dare I say it but I get the feeling the club might be preparing for that eventuality and finding the players who would be prepared to take "Reading wages" at both levels with "PL Experience" seems unlikely to me.

I think the Kebe rant said more than anyone could.