Exclusive: Reading FC suffer Chem Campbell transfer blow as new EFL club lead race | OneFootball

Stevenage have usurped Reading in the race for Wolves winger Chem Campbell, Football League World has learned

Stevenage are interested in Chem Campbell and have now moved ahead of Reading in the race to acquire the Wolves winger, Football League World can exclusively reveal.

Campbell spent the duration of the 2024/25 League One campaign on loan at the Select Car Leasing Stadium in two separate agreements.

The 22-year-old divided opinion in RG2 but racked up a fairly-healthy total of seven goals and four assists from 42 appearances across all competitions, although five of those strikes did come in the first-half of the season before he returned on loan in January.

Campbell has been of interest to Reading, who can now operate freely in the transfer market and have been removed from the EFL's embargo list following Rob Couhig's long-awaited takeover of the club from unpopular former owner Dai Yongge.

However, the Royals' pursuit of Campbell once again ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season has been dealt a setback, and they are no longer leading the way for his signature.

Stevenage move ahead of Reading in Chem Campbell transfer race

Earlier this week, FLW broke the news of Reading's interest in Campbell on a potential free transfer, a deal which would see the winger seal a permanent exit from Wolves while entitling the Old Gold to a sell-on clause.

A deal would, of course, make plenty of sense given that Campbell spent the entirety of last season on loan in Berkshire and appears to have little in the way of a long-term future at Molineux.

The attacker has only made eight senior appearances for Wolves after graduating from the club's academy, having initially been tipped for a glittering career in the West Midlands.

However, Campbell is not short of interest and Reading will face a real challenge in trying to get any deal over the line.

Sources close to FLW have offered a crucial update, and we now understand that Stevenage are rivalling Reading for the winger and have moved ahead of Noel Hunt's side in the race to secure his signing this summer.

Stevenage finished seven places and eighteen points behind seventh-placed Reading last season, though their respectable finish in 14th represents stability and they will now be looking to build upon that by acquiring players such as Campbell.

The Wolves attacker has one year remaining on his current contract with the club, although the Old Gold have the option to extend his terms by a year should they see fit.

Reading may have to move on to other targets amid Stevenage, Chem Campbell transfer blow

This summer's transfer window represents a huge, new opportunity for Reading to really rebuild and bolster the squad, and they will undoubtedly be intent on getting signings through the door as swiftly as possible to prepare in earnest for a hopeful promotion push under Hunt next term.

It's clear that Reading would like Campbell to be one of the first acquisitions in a new era for the club, but they may need to simply move on to other targets instead of spending too much time pursuing a deal and losing ground to divisional rivals in the process.

There is a feeling that the best is yet to come from Campbell, who was accused of inconsistency last term but, at 22, has real long-term potential and is clearly talented.

He would represent a shrewd piece of business for the Royals, though they may now need to set their sights elsewhere following Stevenage's own advancements in pushing for a deal.