Reading FC must deal Portsmouth transfer blow after lifeline revealed: View | OneFootball

Portsmouth will be ramping up their preparations ahead of the summer transfer window.

Having released a number of players, including Sean Raggett, and having gained promotion, there's plenty of work for John Mousinho's side to do if they are to be competitive next season.

And they have already been linked with players, with Altrincham's Chris Conn-Clarke thought to be on their radar.

Pompey are just one of a number of clubs keen on Craig, according to Football Insider, with the Royals potentially set to face a real battle in their quest to retain the midfielder.

He may not start at Fratton Park straight away, but the 21-year-old is certainly one for the future with the potential he has.

Making a decent number of appearances during the 2023/24 campaign, he has some senior experience under his belt and that will only help him if he does make the move to join Mousinho's side.

However, a recent development may make things difficult for Pompey to secure an agreement.

Reading FC's Michael Craig lifeline revealed

Craig's contract at the Select Car Leasing Stadium was due to expire this summer and this raised concerns about a number of player's futures.

With the Royals' takeover not completed yet, offering out contracts is going to be a difficult challenge, but it was revealed on Wednesday morning that the club had triggered one-year contract extension options on a number of players.

Craig was one of these players, along with Femi Azeez, Jeriel Dorsett, Kelvin Ehibatiomhan, Joel Pereira and Jayden Wareham.

This 12-month extension means the Royals are in control of the player's future - and can keep him for all of next season if they wish to.

Reading FC must retain Michael Craig amid Portsmouth links

Craig may not start too many games next season, especially if Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs remain at the SCL Stadium.

Wing could attract interest, but the midfielder is seemingly keen to stay put - and the likes of Knibbs and former Derby Countytarget Savage also have enough time on his contracts for the Royals to keep hold of them.

A 4-2-3-1 system could allow Craig to start regularly, but Wing and Savage will probably be Ruben Selles' first-choice options if the former Southampton boss is keen to be more attacking.

During the latter stages of the campaign, Selles has gone with a 4-1-4-1 formation, and it has brought the Royals some success.

They may have lost against Burton Albion during the penultimate game of the season, but overall, they have benefitted from playing in this shape.

Ben Elliott has thrived in the middle and Wing has done fairly well in a defensive midfield role, which could consign both Savage and Craig to a place on the bench.

However, it seems clear that Wing isn't a specialist defensive midfielder despite doing well there in recent games, and this is a key reason why keeping Craig at the club for now is important.

It's also important because the takeover is yet to go through.

No further exits can be sanctioned until a takeover materialises, with the exception of the goalkeeping department, considering they have five options in that area.

Craig also has a high amount of potential and could develop into a much better player in the future.

The Royals' future takeover may not solve all of their problems, but they could hand a longer extension to the midfielder, who will only become a better player when he gets more playing time under his belt.

It's not as if the Berkshire club would be strengthening the 21-year-old if they sold him to Pompey, but they can't afford to sell him at this stage for the reasons listed above.