At least that is what icBerkshire is reporting. The article is mostly about the almost certain departure of Sidwell but mentions that Coppell is expecting a £10 million transfer budget. The article goes on to talk about potential targets to replace Sidwell like Fabrice Muamba, Jason Koumas and Joey Barton. I really don't think Barton is a good fit at Reading ar anywhere really with his discipline problems. I don't know much about Muamba, I've never seen him play, but he has been a regular starter at Birmingham this season, so that should count for something. But the rumored price for him is £4M. That seems a little high for a unproven 19 year old. Jason Koumas just signed a new 3 year deal with West Brom in the summer and they had paid £2.25m to get him 5 years ago. I like that he has so premiership experience and isn't to old at 27.
I definately don't want Barton. Can't really comment on Muamba. 10M is pretty good, if true. Enough for a big buy and maybe a few smaller ones.
who hasn't signed a new contract through at least '09? everybody right, except maybe federici? i wonder how much that plays into coppells transfer targets..
Reading appear set to lose Steve Sidwell after his apparent rejection of their latest bid to keep him. The 24-year-old midfielder is out of contract this summer and has been linked with a move to Chelsea, Manchester United or Newcastle. The club's director of football Nicky Hammond told the Reading Chronicle: "Part of us hopes he will stay but the reality is he will go. "But he's got an awful lot to consider and I hope he makes the right choice." He added: "Steve knows our position. I spoke with his people a couple of weeks ago and told them if there was anything more we could do to keep him or encourage him to stay they should come back to us. "But that hasn't happened and I'm sure Steve will make his position known as soon as the season has finished." Sidwell has been one of Reading's star performers as they have emerged as the surprise package in the Premiership. But Hammond has warned the former Arsenal trainee that he may not get regular first-team action if he moves on. "He has got a big decision to make. There is a lot of interest out there and it's a very important decision for him," said Hammond. "He knows what he has got at Reading. We've been really competitive this year and he has been an integral part of that team. "He has been a mainstay of the side and I imagine, for him, that is imperative wherever he goes. "But he's not likely to find that situation easy to come by at another club. "Steve is a player who needs to play week-in week-out to be at the top of his game but there is never a guarantee of that happening somewhere else." Source: BBC SPORT
Muamba to stay on at Birmingham City for good: http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx...=Blues+win+Muamba+race&channel=football_home& WHo do you now turn your attention toward?
it seems official,muamba now belongs to birmingham. i wish he would show more loyalty, but at the end of the day, money talks.
Hopefully Barton isn't next on the list after Muamba. Is Fae still in the equation? I haven't seen him mentioned outside of here for a while. I'd definately rather have him than Barton, as he'd be cheaper and hopefully better.
somone on here mentioned joseph, an idea I like very much. Not sure if he'd be ready to step right in though, and that's kind of needed. Not sure Fae is ready to step right in, either. Maybe we get a project with huge upside, and Bikey/Gunn/Oster hold the fort with harper?
Doesn't matter so much with the system Reading play and the players we have. Barton as a play would be ideal, but it's his temperament that causes concern. I'm not sure Coppell would risk the negative influence on the team he could have.