Reading FC interested in Lincoln City player amid Huddersfield Town & Barnsley interest | OneFootball

The Royals are looking to strengthen their backline ahead of the 2025/26 League One season.

Reading FC are the latest League One club to have been linked with a move for Lincoln City defender Paudie O'Connor.

The Royals have been chasing the 27-year-old this summer, according to Reading Chronicle journalist James Earnshaw via X.

Earnshaw has reported that there is potential for O'Connor to be Noel Hunt's first signing of the summer, as he prepares for his first full season in the dugout at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

Football League World exclusively revealed last month that League One duo Huddersfield Town and Barnsley were battling to sign the out-of-contract defender on a free transfer, and it now seems that Reading are also involved in the race for his signature.

O'Connor made 39 league appearances as Lincoln finished 11th in the third tier last season, with his return of three goals and five assists showing that he can provide an attacking threat from set-pieces as well as being an adept defender.

After Rob Couhig's takeover of Reading was completed last month, the club's supporters have hope that their side can build on last season's seventh-place finish in League One next term, and being linked with a player like O'Connor is an encouraging sign.

Huddersfield have already signed Joe Low and Sean Roughan on free transfers from Wycombe Wanderers and Lincoln respectively to bolster their defence, so if Reading can beat them and Barnsley to the signing of O'Connor, then it would show that they can once again compete with some of the bigger clubs in the division during the transfer window.

With defender Amadou Mbengue attracting interest from the Championship, it seems unlikely that the 23-year-old will extend his stay at the Select Car Leasing stadium, but if Reading can complete a deal for O'Connor, then that would be a respectable replacement.

The fact that Reading are targeting a player like O'Connor, who is being chased by clubs that are likely to be in the promotion picture next season, is an indicator that the Royals are in a position to target a return to the Championship under their new ownership.

Noel Hunt will no doubt be hoping that he can win the race for his compatriot, as that addition would be a real statement of intent early in the summer.

Lincoln City were desperate to keep Paudie O'Connor - he would be a League One coup for others

Huddersfield and Barnsley battling to sign O'Connor shows that he is a player capable of performing for a side chasing promotion at the top end of League One, and the fact that Lincoln were so keen to keep hold of him is a further indicator of his ability.

The Imps conceded the second-fewest number of goals in the third tier during the 2023/24 campaign, with O'Connor captaining the side from the centre of defence as they produced that impressive record.

The BBC revealed that Lincoln were doing everything in their power to tie the Irishman down to an extended contract earlier this year, but it now seems likely that he will move on, and Reading will hope that they can be the team to profit from the situation.