Luton Town price tag revelation emerges on current AFC Bournemouth player after Reading FC exit | OneFootball

Championship side Luton Town paid in the region of just £25,000 to lure full-back Jack Stacey from Reading back in 2017, according to manager Nathan Jones who spoke on the BBC’s 72+ Podcast.

The 25-year-old was one of the Royals’ most promising academy players at the time, shining in the club’s youth system and even going on to make multiple appearances for the Berkshire outfit, appearing six times at a senior level before being shifted on to the Hatters.

Playing as more of a winger at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, he was converted into a full-back at Kenilworth Road and became a real asset for Nathan Jones’ side, playing a key part in their rise from League Two to the second tier.

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Asmir Begovic? (First spell)

Fee Free

This earned him a £4m move to current side AFC Bournemouth, who were plying their trade in the Premier League at the time with Stacey managing to get one season of top-tier experience under his belt before their relegation back down to the Championship.

However, this has provided the 25-year-old with several first-team opportunities as one of the first names on the teamsheet for Scott Parker’s men, making 27 appearances in all competitions as a regular starter on the right-hand side.

He now looks set to win promotion back to the top tier of English football and although the Royals did receive a sell-on fee for his services when he was sold on to the south-coast outfit, they have received a fresh blow with Luton boss Jones admitting they only paid around £25,000 for him, a real blow considering he’s now thriving at the Vitality Stadium.

The Verdict:

At this stage, it’s no real surprise for Reading supporters that the 25-year-old has been sold on for much less than he’s worth considering they have also let other gems go for little in recent years.

Brentford’s Tarique Fosu is a prime example of that, winning promotion with Thomas Frank’s men last term and is now plying his trade in the top flight, with his potential being clear to see way back when he was in Berkshire.

Unfortunately, unnecessary signings blocked their pathway and similar applies to Rob Dickie who deserved a bigger chance to shine at the club before he was sold on permanently to Oxford United.

He is now in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers and has been linked with a top-tier move in recent times, so it just goes to show how poor the board’s decision making has been.

For Luton though, this just shows how well-run they have been and goes a long way in showing exactly why they have been so successful in rising up the English pyramid.

Making a near-£4m profit on a player is not something to be sniffed at.