Reading FC

Reading FC are closing in on Blackpool’s versatile midfielder Tom Ince. Picture: Blackpool Gazette
advertisement

Reading FC prepare £8million bid for Tom Ince

By Jonny Fordham
January 30, 2013

Reading will have to shatter their transfer record with a bid of at least £8million if they are to beat off interest from Liverpool to sign Tom Ince from Blackpool.

Royals manager Brian McDermott confirmed the club’s first offer, believed to be £6.5million, was turned down.

And director of football Nick Hammond is set to go back to Bloomfield Road with an improved bid for the England Under-21 midfielder before the transfer window slams shut at 11pm tomorrow.

Ince, son of former Manchester United midfielder Paul, is also wanted by Brendan Rodgers’ Reds, who ironically sold him to the Seasiders in August 2011.

The Championship side are notoriously hard negotiators and with Liverpool having a 35-per-cent sell-on clause in the contract, Royals know they will have to more than treble their current transfer record of £2.5million for Emerse Fae.

But McDermott is confident the offer of guaranteed first-team football at Reading could be a huge factor in landing the versatile 20-year-old.

He said: “I think we can compete as far as what we can offer. It has to feel right for the player, myself and our club and I definitely feel we have a good environment for players to develop.

“That has been proven over a number of years.

A lot of younger players want to come to us because they get that opportunity to develop and do well. It would be decent money for this club (to spend).

“I would imagine Thomas Ince has got a very big future in the game.

“We do develop players and we’ve done that over a long period of time.

“He scores goals, he makes goals, he’s got good feet, he can go left, he can go right. He’s got a great attitude.

“But I’m talking about someone who doesn’t belong to us so maybe I shouldn’t.”

Ince, who has scored 15 goals in 30 appearances this season, said: “I just have to keep my head down and keep working.

“Whatever happens, happens. If nothing does I will be more than happy to stay at Blackpool.”

| Submit Comments | View Comments (21)

« Previous Story | Next Story »

Most recent user comments 15 of 21

1 | 2 | Next Page Show 15 | 25 | 50 per page

Mcd said on the radio afta Chelsea this is now off and they are 50/50 about one other player tomo

Urz Urz
30/01/2013 at 23:13

BBC Sheffield reporting RFC have bought Blackman for £1.2m. We deserve to go down we are cheap skates!!!

Tilehurst Ender, Spencers wood
30/01/2013 at 18:23

GIVE IT A BLEEDIN REST WILL YOU

ray northstander
30/01/2013 at 18:23

This is like that old Everly brothers song Dream, dream, dream.

cavlad007
30/01/2013 at 18:18

Well we can, actually, because the direct quotes come from BMcD's pre-match press conference, whereas the inferences are journalistic spin, which I'm not necessarily criticising JF for (he's a journo, and doing his job), but I don't think it's fair to say that BMcD was indulging in "Foolish talk" because he didn't actually use the phrase "guaranteed first-team football at Reading could be a huge factor in landing the versatile 20-year-old". I'm not looking to pick a fight with you - I'm just saying we should all be careful not to assume that what journalists report is necessarily the same as what people actually SAY... :o)

Colin Williams, Reading, Berks
30/01/2013 at 17:25

Colin Williams. You nor I are able to say what McD actually said in his statement. All we may assume is, that is what McD intimated or did indeed say, hence JF reporting such. Therefore I stand by my criticism until told differently. JF is the voice of RFC as appointed and will of course of been informed to report accurately when speaking on behalf of any member of permanent staff at RFC.

Tilidie, Woodley
30/01/2013 at 14:58

Tilidie - I agree with you! But that would be an issue with JF, and not grounds for criticism of BMcD...

Colin Williams, Reading, Berks
30/01/2013 at 14:11

Wobbly Bob. You my well be an Iriish fan and good luck to ya Sir. Yet you post moe sensibly than some on here. Keep wobbling Bob and good to hear from you on this forum.

Tilidie, Woodley
30/01/2013 at 13:29

ha ha people moan when we show no intent or not prepared to spend decent money (me being one of them) and they still moan when we are prepared to spend money on decent players and show a bit of ambition

whatever the club spend or dont spend fans will never be happy

i for one would be delighted if we could pull this one off 3 central midfield players of guthrie linking defence to attack and retaining the ball jem doing all the hassling and ince just linking things to the pog or alfie.. imagine that

last chance saloon
30/01/2013 at 13:27

Buying several experienced players for £8million- who would you get without them demanding huge salaries? Get this guy on a long term deal, link him with the other "younger" players and you have the basis of a team for years to come, buying instant success (Portsmouth possibly an example) can have issues, I like the longer term view the club seems to be taking. Bu I am actually an Irish fan, what do I know! COYI!!

Wobbly Bob
30/01/2013 at 12:42

exciting news l hope his dad can influence this talented young man ro reading ?

dickemery, caversham
30/01/2013 at 11:38

A. XYZ - "Don't see the point 8m could buy several players with experiance rather than 1 player "

We will never compete at this level if we dont invest in the kind of quality Ince will provide. Yes we could get several players at that money but how many would have an effect at prem level. If the royals have a healthy transfer kitty then im happy they are finally using it.

Looking forward to tonight, I think hazard gave us a tough time at the Bridge (well gunter anyway) i think him being suspended is also a blow for them.

lenny the tramp
30/01/2013 at 11:30

I note that we've radically departed from our oft-stated policy of not commenting on other clubs players.

Ince is an outstanding prospect, who I'd be delighted to see at RFC. I can't see a transfer being concluded (to us, anyway), although I'm happy to be proved entirely wrong.

The issue with Carrico, by the way, is purely fitness (at this stage, anyway).

Frankly I'm more concerned with tonight's game. Turnbull in goal for Chelsea? The whole of Surrey must be a tad concerned. And who'll be on the victim of the Ramirez sly late challenge?