Southampton should snub Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town for Reading FC: View | OneFootball

Southampton's Dom Ballard should snub interest from Bolton Wanderers and Huddersfield Town and join Reading FC.

Southampton are preparing for life back in the Premier League, and while the focus will be on strengthening their side for the campaign ahead, they will have some key decisions to make over the future of their young stars.

One of those is forward Dom Ballard, who has come through the Saints academy, playing for the club’s under-18s, under-21s, and B team.

The 19-year-old spent last season on loan at Reading FC, his first spell away from Southampton, and given how successful it was, it is no surprise to see the player being eyed by EFL sides once again.

Bolton and Huddersfield join Reading in the race to sign Dom Ballard

It was reported by Reading Today earlier in July that Reading FC were hopeful of completing a deal that would see Ballard return to the club on loan.

He spent last season with the Royals, but his campaign was cut short in November as the forward snapped his patellar tendon.

But Reading are not the only side chasing the Southampton striker, as, according to journalist Alan Nixon, Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, and Wycombe Wanderers are also keen on the player.

Nixon states that the Terriers hope to be at the front of the queue for his signature given that they have just come from the Championship into League One.

However, both Bolton and Huddersfield may be at a disadvantage in this race as both clubs are already well-stocked in the final third.

Bolton and Huddersfield attacking options

Bolton and Huddersfield will be bidding to be there or thereabouts when it comes to sealing promotion from League One this season.

The Trotters have come close to promotion in the last two campaigns, while the Terriers come into League One with a squad full of Championship experience.

Both teams will be among the favourites for promotion for different reasons and it is understandable why they may then be good clubs to join for Ballard.

However, the Southampton man is going to want to play regular football if he were to leave the Saints on loan, something that will be a priority for his parent club as well, and that could be hard to come by at both Bolton and Huddersfield.

Wanderers already have a wealth of attacking options at the club, with Dion Charles, Victor Adeboyejo, and Aaron Collins options to lead the line.

Charles and Adeboyejo were key for Bolton last season, and so was Collins after he joined the club in the January transfer window. Bolton also have Dan Nlundulu, meaning Ian Evatt already has four decent weapons up top.

Huddersfield also have a strong striking unit for the level.

The Terriers are able to call upon Patrick Jones, Danny Ward, Kyle Hudlin, Kian Harratt, Bojan Radulovic, and Rhys Healey.

Some of these players may still depart the club over the coming weeks, but as things stand, there are a lot of players to choose from, which could mean Ballard’s game time isn’t as regular as it could be elsewhere.

Given the options both Bolton and Huddersfield have, Ballard and Southampton should be focusing more on the player re-oining Reading FC this summer.

Reading FC would be the best move for Ballard

Ballard joined the Royals on a season-long loan deal last summer and while it started very well for the player, it soon came to a shattering end.

The forward snapped his patellar tendon last November, which meant his campaign with Reading was cut short.

The 19-year-old played 10 times for the club in League One, during which he scored three goals. Ballard also played a further two games for the club in the EFL Trophy and FA Cup, and the forward scored two more goals and chipped in with two assists.

It was a promising start to a loan that had the potential to go very well, but the injury he suffered meant it was all over in November.

Reading are keen on bringing the player back and they will hope to have the chance to have the player for a full campaign.

Reading may be considered further behind teams such as Bolton and Huddersfield when it comes to promotion, but the Royals can probably offer Ballard something these two teams can’t.

That is regular game time, as Ruben Selles’ side are very light in the forward area of the team, with Sam Smith being their most senior forward.

After Smith, Reading do have players such as Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Jayden Wareham, and Basil Tuma. But they may be further behind Ballard, so were the Southampton man to rejoin Reading, it could be argued that he will likely play more minutes of football than he could at either Bolton or Huddersfield.

Ballard started six of the 10 league games he played for Reading last season, so he was very much in the thoughts of Selles, and you would presume it would be the same this season if he were to join.

Southampton need to send the player to a club where they know he is going to play week in and week out, and that was one of the reasons they sent him to Reading last summer. Therefore, that should be the same again this time around, as the Royals need fresh additions in attack more than the other two teams do.