Reading have expressed an interest in Swansea City defender Brandon Cooper, according to journalist Darren Witcoop.
The Royals are yet to pick up a point in League One this season, with the adjustment to the third tier proving harder than first thought. They have however not been disgraced in either game, losing to both Peterborough and Port Vale 1-0. That being said, Port Vale had previously lost to Barnsley the week before 7-0 so Rubén Sellés will be expecting his side to pick up their form in the coming weeks.
To do so, we may see the Spaniard bring in a couple of new signings to the Madejski Stadium prior to the transfer window closing on the first of September. It has today emerged that they’ve expressed an interest in Swansea centre-half Brandon Cooper, who may come in to bolster the back line.
Cooper is yet to make an appearance for the Swans this season, and a summer move is certainly not out of question. A number of League One clubs are believed to be monitoring the current situation, with Reading leading the pack. The 23-year-old already possesses EFL experience through loan moves to Newport County, Swindon Town and Forest Green Rovers and has even made five Championship appearances for Swansea.
It does however seem that if the former Wales under-21 international wants to progress and reach his full potential, then that will come with a permanent move away from the Swansea.com Stadium.
Reading could be a very good potential suitor for the centre-half with the club having lofty ambitions for the 2023/24 League One season. Although they may have not got off to the best start to life in the third tier, Sellés will be expecting his players to really start to gel in the coming weeks.
It has very much been a summer of change at the Madjeski Stadium, with a number of off-the-pitch problems as well as numerous departures. The Royals were relegated from the Championship last season due to a six-point deduction following on from the club failing to pay their players on time. Had they not had that deduction, then they would still be in the second tier and although there are still plenty of off-field problems to deal with, their is faith in manager Rubén Sellés to return them back to the Championship.
The Berkshire club had previously been placed under a transfer embargo which caused plenty of unrest within the fanbase. With that embargo now lifted, they are free to sign players contracted at other clubs and it will be expected that the side will progress with time.
Cooper would be a decent signing for the Royals and could act as cover whilst also pushing for a position in the starting eleven. His career hasn’t really got off the ground yet, and a move would certainly help that case.
Writer’s view
It could be considered somewhat of a gamble, signing a player who was relegated last season in a truly shocking Forest Green defence. I’d give Cooper the benefit of the doubt on that one due to the poor management of the club under Duncan Fergusson. It’s about time he makes a permanent move away from Swansea in order to progress his career and I believe that at a club like Reading, he can do just that. It will be interesting to see how Sellés uses Cooper, but I’d imagine he’d be a rotational defender to begin with but if impressing, there’s no reason why he couldn’t be a mainstay in the back line.
