Reading FC should consider risky Plymouth Argyle swoop: View | OneFootball

Reading need to sort out their ownership situation because they can't think about transfers too much until a sale happens.

However, key figures behind the scenes, including Mark Bowen, will need to line up targets ahead of the summer window, in case a sale does go through.

At the moment, it doesn't seem as though a sale is imminent, but the Royals will be able to move once new owners are in place and there are a number of areas that they need to strengthen.

The striker department is a position that clearly needs to be addressed, with Sam Smith the club's only adequate option in this area at this stage, with Jayden Wareham still needing time to develop and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan potentially better suited to a wing role.

Speaking of the wing area, this is another position that could benefit from some summer additions and more depth in central defence would be ideal.

At right-back, Andy Yiadom and Kelvin Abrefa could be sufficient options if the latter agrees a new contract to stay put but the left-back department is clearly a weak link.

Jeriel Dorsett can play there but he is arguably more suited to a centre-back role. John Ryan, who is yet to make his first-team debut, could also be an option after shining for the U21s.

But with Clinton Mola, Nesta Guinness-Walker, and Matty Carson all leaving, the left-back department needs at least one addition before the 2024/25 campaign starts.

Reading FC will be limited in the left-backs they can target this summer

The Royals are unable to pay loan fees or transfer fees this summer, according to BBC journalist Lewis Coombes.

This three-window sanction was applied last summer and because of this, the upcoming window should be the last one in which the Berkshire side are under these restrictions.

But this embargo will make things difficult for the Royals this summer, especially if a takeover doesn't happen very shortly,

The free agent and loan markets will need to be used well by the club.

Reading FC should eye a loan move for Saxon Earley

Before the 2023/24 campaign, the Royals suffered badly with injury problems but they didn't suffer that many setbacks for much of the most recent season.

This will give any injury-prone player hope that they could be successful if they make the move to the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Plymouth Argyle left-back Saxon Earley is one player who has struggled with injuries in the past year, making just two league appearances in all competitions.

That's a shame because the 2023/24 season could have been a big one for the 21-year-old.

Having registered a couple of goals for the Pilgrims during the second half of the 2022/23 campaign, prodding the ball home away at Oxford United and also finding himself in the right place at the right time against Peterborough United.

He would probably offer a lot more than Dorsett can in the final third but how he defends will determine how well his loan spell is viewed at the SCL Stadium, if he makes the loan move to Berkshire.

Some would argue that Earley's presence could limit Ryan's game time, but the latter would need time to adapt to first-team football anyway and the Plymouth man could be a fairly cheap loan addition.

The Royals and the Pilgrims may already be familiar with each other, having reportedly discussed a potential January 2024 deal for Femi Azeez, so this could be a fairly easy deal to do if the ownership situation is sorted and the Devon-based outfit are willing to loan him out.

A temporary switch to Berkshire could be a good outcome for the player, Plymouth and the Royals, especially with Earley only likely to get better with more game time under his belt.

The left-back area has been a problem position for the club for a while, so having Earley could be an exciting temporary solution for Selles and his team.