Reading FC have taken critical stance after Millwall approach: View | OneFootball

The Royals should look to continue rejecting approaches for Femi Azeez in their current situation.

Reading will be hoping to retain the vast majority of their key first-teamers beyond the end of the summer transfer window, especially their key players who played a big part in keeping the club afloat in League One.

However, the Royals could face a difficult task in their likely quest to do that for a couple of key reasons.

Firstly, the Berkshire side need to ensure that they can stay alive financially and the current ownership could potentially decide to cash in on players again if a takeover deal isn't close.

It's unclear whether that will happen, but it may be a possibility considering the club decided to sell the likes of Nelson Abbey and Tom Holmes during the January transfer window to bring in cash to continue funding the club.

Secondly, some of their players were exceptional last season, especially their attacking assets.

Tyler Bindon has impressed, but it's the likes of Lewis Wing, Harvey Knibbs, and Sam Smith that have stolen the headlines in 2024, with their goals and assists helping to keep the Berkshire side out of the bottom four.

All four players mentioned could attract interest from clubs between now and the end of the window, with Femi Azeez another player who could be heavily linked with a move away from the Select Car Leasing Stadium in the coming weeks.

Latest on Femi Azeez's Reading FC future

Back in January, Plymouth Argyle wanted to get a deal over the line for Azeez but the Pilgrims were unable to get a deal over the line for him in the end.

It looked as though the Royals were going to lose him in the summer, with his contract coming to an end, something that would have been a disaster for the Royals considering how lethal he was in front of goal for a decent chunk of last season.

However, the club revealed in the off-season that they activated a one-year extension option to keep the player at the SCL Stadium until the summer of 2025.

Millwall are the latest side that have expressed an interest in him, but the Lions were told that he wasn't for sale and they have moved on to other targets since.

In a normal situation, the Royals could have benefitted from cashing in on Azeez this summer to avoid the risk of losing him for nothing next summer.

Considering how valuable he is, losing him for nothing would be painful, but the Berkshire side simply can't afford to cash in on players in their current situation.

It's unclear whether cash flow issues later this month will crop up if a takeover isn't complete, with wages and other bills needing to be paid.

But right now, in the short term, they need to keep hold of as many players as possible if they are to compete in the third tier and Azeez is one star who is particularly important.

With the likes of Dom Ballard and Paul Mukairu returning to their parent clubs, the Berkshire side don't have many wing threats and if Azeez goes, that could play a part in making the Royals' attack fairly blunt.

Harvey Knibbs can play out wide, but he has been much better when he has played centrally.

Adrian Akande and Jeremiah Okine-Peters could potentially step up to the first team next term, as well as the exciting Basil Tuma and Mamadi Camara, but keeping Azeez will be vital for their attack next term.

If a takeover happens or if the Royals are in desperate, desperate need of many, the Royals may want to re-think their stance on the winger, but taking a firm stance now is the right decision.