Joe Jacobson makes exciting Joel Pereira prediction after Reading FC boost | OneFootball

The goalkeeper was wanted by a number of other teams this summer.

Joel Pereira could become a "club legend" after agreeing new terms with Reading, according to their co-CEO Joe Jacobson.

The financial prospects at the Select Car Leasing Stadium are finally in a healthy position after years under the ownership of Dai Yongge, and the club's positive run hasn't stopped following the sale to Rob Couhig.

Reading have managed to secure the services of two of their highly sought-after talents - Pereira and Lewis Wing. The Wing bombshell came first, just before the final week of May, and the Portuguese shot-stopper followed suit on Friday when it was announced that he'd penned a new three-year deal with the Royals.

The 28-year-old former Manchester United player had a real standout season under Ruben Selles and Noel Hunt last time out, keeping 13 clean sheets in 40 appearances and saving 75% of the shots that he faced, as per Sofascore.

Joe Jacobson makes Joel Pereira "club legend" claim

Jacobson, who joined Reading after more than a decade playing for the new owner at Wycombe Wanderers, has done well in his first football operations role to tie down two of the club's key players; Pereira especially, who, according to the Welshman, had the chance to play at a higher level next season.

The former left-back told the Reading Chronicle: "It is not as easy as you offer a contract, and they sign. Wingy [Lewis Wing] was great and that was a great one to get one done early.

"We’ve wanted Joel to stay for a long time, but he had such a good season - sometimes you wish he had a rubbish season, and less people would be interested in him.

"He had lots of offers from the Championship and League One, some serious offers, so we had to fight. Joel wanted to stay. He loves it here, but anyone wants to play as high as they can in their careers.

"For his career, he can really blossom here and be consistent and be a club legend. He’s only really played for a year, but I think he could turn into a club legend if he’s here for another few years."

Not all the futures of the players who were offered new deals by the Royals have been decided on. While he said some of them have agreed to stay but just haven't been announced, Jacobson has admitted that they will struggle to hang onto everyone, amid heavy Championship interest in defender Amadou Mbengue.

Joel Pereira will become a club legend if he takes Reading back to the Championship

A lot of the players who have been a part of the Reading story over the past two seasons, in particular, will always be remembered fondly for the work that they did in such poor conditions to, one, stop the club from sinking further down the pyramid and, two, getting them up towards the play-offs last time out.

If Reading are able to kick on under the new ownership, the chances are that Pereira will play a strong hand in that. If he can be part of the group that restores their former Championship status, there's no doubt that the Portuguese keeper will achieve legendary status in Berkshire.