"Vultures are circling" - Reading FC reaction issued amid Sam Smith, Wrexham AFC interest | OneFootball

FLW's Reading fan pundit has provided his verdict on the latest talk of Sam Smith departing for Wrexham.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Reading FC duo Sam Smith and Andre Garcia could leave the club before the deadline, with Wrexham chasing the former and Southampton the latter.

Fabrizio Romano states that the 17-year-old left-back has interest from the Premier League outfit, who have made a bid of around £2 million as their opening offer for Garcia, which was rejected by the Royals.

Meanwhile, Football League World exclusively revealed the news of Wrexham's interest in Reading's star striker before the window closes next Monday. Given the club's financial situation, there is every chance that a key player could be sold.

Football League World's Reading fan pundit Johnny Hunt was asked if his worst fears are being realised with vultures circling both Smith and Garcia, and whether Smith should get a better move than to another League One side if he wanted it - the Royals though have been told to stand firm on their price-tag due to the fact they will not be able to source a replacement for the forward.

Johnny told FLW: "It's not a surprise that the vultures are circling around our players.

"There's not long to go until the window ends and you hope that we can somehow get through without having any players sold, but we all know how football works.

"We're not in a position where we can hand out contracts past the summer until the ownership is sorted out. That is going to be unlikely to be fixed in the next week.

"It's taken 18 months and God knows how long to get this far and nothing is close yet, but we keep the faith.

"If players want to go, then they have to go for a good fee. We need the money to justify it.

"With regards to Sam Smith being eyed up by Wrexham? I don't want him to go, because we aren't going to be able to replace him. He's a very good striker for us and has been at this level.

"I would question whether he could go up any higher, at the minute, than the Championship. It's a big, big leap from league to league.

"That's why he's played at League One level, no offence. But you talk about Wrexham as a team that is flying along, apart from the result last night against Stevenage.

"The top two are expected to go up, but for someone like that and for their own development and potential, it would be a no-brainer to join them.

"The way that they play and everything else would suit Sam Smith. But I don't want him to leave; end of.

"He's a Reading lad and we need him and we need everyone to stick together and help us get through another tricky period at the club.

"Garcia is the same, you know. He's 17 years old and going to a club to sit on the bench isn't going to help his development.

"But we just don't know what will happen. We have to hope and pray that we get through the transfer window closing with the same team and squad that we have now."

Reading's financial woes could mean a sale ahead of deadline day

Smith is under contract at play-off chasing Reading until 2026. However, the club's well-documented financial crisis under the tumultuous ownership of Dai Yongge means they are always susceptible to losing their best assets, of which Smith is most certainly one.

Reading have, naturally, struggled to hold on to key players recently, and there is every chance either of Garcia or Smith being the latest to depart for financial reasons. For now, the priority remains funding the club on a day-to-day basis.

A sale could ease their financial woes in the meantime, given the future of the club hangs in the balance, even if that is a bitter pill to swallow for a side defying the odds in the circumstances. Selling him to a rival in Wrexham may be even more difficult to accept as well.