Reading FC plotting Everton transfer raid | OneFootball

The Royals are reportedly lining up a move for Everton defender Reece Welch.

Reading have enquired over the possibility of signing Everton defender Reece Welch, with the Toffees willing to sanction a loan move for the England youth international.

That's according to an exclusive report from Football Insider on Thursday morning, which would see Reading bolster their defensive options further before the transfer window shuts.

The Royals have yet to add any new faces to their squad this summer, with youngsters Andre Garcia and Abraham Kanu acting as such, having been promoted from the club's academy system into Ruben Selles' senior side.

Fellow League One side Leyton Orient are also understood to have registered their interest in the Everton academy graduate, but now it appears that Reading are ready to rival them for Welch's signature.

Royals lining up Welch deal

Revealed by Football Insider on Thursday, Reading are preparing to make their move for Everton centre-back Welch, as they look to add further strength in depth to their squad before the window shuts.

The report states that the Premier League club have high hopes for Welch's future, and thus a loan move to a club like Reading would be the logical next step in his development.

Welch, 20, was granted his first extended taste of senior football last season, spending the first half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan with League Two side Forest Green Rovers.

There he would make 24 appearances in all competitions for Rovers, with 17 of those coming in the league in which he was able to notch two assists during his stay.

Welch joined Everton as an eight-year-old, and his gradual rise through their academy system earned him his first professional contract with the club in 2020.

Since then, he's gone on to make a couple of first team appearances since 2021, but has largely stayed playing for Everton's academy side.

Welch would be welcome addition to thin Royals centre-back group

With Welch set to turn 21 in September, the need and desire to play regular first team football will only be growing stronger, as he looks to give himself the best chance of a successful career.

Having that experience with Forest Green last season will likely only have served to motivate the young defender to want to seek out a similar experience yet again this season, as he will no doubt be looking to show Everton that he's ready to make the step-up to men's football.

Therefore, landing with a club such as Reading would appear to be an ideal situation for him this summer. The Royals have one of the most respected coaches in the division in Selles, and a centre-back group that is very thin on the ground, and thus could grant him plenty of starting opportunities.

Reading have been lining up with the youthful centre-back pairing of Tyler Bindon (19) and Amadou Salif Mbengue (22) to start the season, and with much success too, with the Royals unbeaten in 2024/25 heading into a clash with Wrexham this weekend.

But behind those two, Selles' strength in depth at the position isn't as strong as he would like it to be. 33-year-old Harlee Dean only made 11 League One appearances for the club last season and is out of contract next summer, whilst the aforementioned Kanu taking his first steps in the senior game this season.

As such, adding a highly-rated Premier League prospect in Welch would not only shore up Reading's centre-back depth for when injuries and suspensions inevitably occur, but as an England youth international, he could add that touch of top-flight class to the group too.