“Ruben Selles will be saying” - Pundit backs Reading FC takeover to impact Millwall, Stoke City player chase | OneFootball

Carlton Palmer has given his verdict on the situation surrounding Femi Azeez's Reading future

Carlton Palmer has claimed that the US consortium that’s agreed to take over Reading must help the club keep Femi Azeez amid interest from Stoke City, Millwall and Plymouth Argyle.

According to Teamtalk, the Royals have already turned down an offer from Stoke for the 23-year-old.

Millwall and Plymouth are also said to be interested in the player as we enter into the final weeks of the transfer window.

But the Berkshire outfit’s chances of holding onto the forward could be improved by the completion of Dai Yongge’s sale of the club.

According to the Reading Chronicle, the League One side will confirm that the deal involving ex-Wycombe Wanderers owner Rob Couhig has been finalised early next week.

Carlton Palmer makes Femi Azeez transfer claim

Palmer believes that Azeez is well liked by manager Ruben Selles, and that his exclusion from last weekend’s draw against Birmingham likely had no connection to the speculation over his future.

He is hopeful that Selles will be able to convince the new owners of Azeez’s importance, which will help their chances of holding onto the forward.

“Azeez is a young player that is in demand, the likes of Millwall, Stoke and Plymouth are all keen on Reading’s Femi Azeez,” Palmer told Football League World.

“He was a surprise omission from Reading’s opening day draw at Birmingham City.

“Reports say he was injured.

“I don’t think there was anything other than that because he was playing in all of their pre-season games under Ruben Selles.

“Ruben Selles really likes the player, so I don’t think he’s been left out for any other reason, unless there’s a potential transfer on the cards.

“Hopefully the takeover that comes in will hopefully keep the exciting player at the club.

“If he they are going to sell him, he’s a young player with a bright future, they will be looking for at least £1 to 2 million.

“But if this takeover is completed, I’m sure Ruben Selles will be playing to the American consortium that this is a player that we have to keep.

“He’s got a bright future, and he’s going to be worth a lot of money down the line, so the sooner this takeover happens the better.

“It’s a player that Ruben Selles will definitely want to keep at the club.”

Azeez was a crucial part of the side last season as the team avoided relegation to League Two.

The 23-year-old contributed eight goals and nine assists in the third tier, as Reading finished 17th in the table (all stats from Fbref).

Azeez featured in all 46 of the team’s league games, starting 43 times, to cement himself as a key part of the team.

The youngster has come through the ranks of the academy system, and will be a crucial part of Reading’s long-term ambitions, if he can be convinced to stay at the club amid interest in him from the Championship.

Keeping Azeez would be a great start for new Reading owners

If Reading can hold onto Azeez this summer, then that will be a great start for the club’s new prospective owners.

He is a talented young forward that can help the team compete at a high level in League One.

The opportunity to move to the Championship is enticing, so convincing him to stay would be a great endorsement of the new project being built at the club.

This would also be a great way to back Selles, and show their support for the manager following the arrival of new owners.