Reading appear to have suffered a further blow in their search for recruitments following the news that striker Jay Stansfield is set to remain at Fulham this season, according to Darren Witcoop.
The Royals are on the search for temporary reinforcements to their squad after a poor start to the new campaign , which has seen them narrowly lose their opening two league fixtures against Peterborough United and Port Vale.
Their summer business has been disrupted by a string of transfer embargoes, although they have brought in an array of free transfers as they look to adapt to life in League One following their relegation from the Championship last season.
Manager Ruben Selles is still hoping to bring in new additions before the end of the transfer window and rumours emerged last month that there was interest in Fulham attacker Jay Stansfield.
The 20-year-old has earned his stripes in England’s third tier following his successful loan spell with Exeter City last season. The youngster hit the headlines upon joining the Grecians, following in his father’s footsteps at St James Park. He took on the number 9 shirt upon his arrival, a number which had previously been retired at the club following Adam’s tragic passing in 2010.
After hitting a hat trick against Morecambe in his final game for Exeter, Stansfield returned to his parent club for pre-season. According to Witcoop, the striker has impressed Cottagers’ boss Marco Silva over the summer and looks set to remain at Craven Cottage this season after appearing amongst the substitutes in their opening day win over Everton at the weekend.
Reading will be looking for their first points of the season tomorrow night when they host Cheltenham Town at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, a team which have also lost their opening two league fixtures.
Writer’s View
Jay Stansfield was only tentatively linked with a move to Reading last month and a move to the Berkshire club was always speculative.
It was believed that Exeter were keen on bringing the youngster back for a second season following the culmination of his first loan spell and it was likely that any move back to League One would result in a return to St James Park.
It is a blow for Reading fans though, who are desperate to see some quality acquisitions before the end of the transfer window, particularly as goals have proved difficult to come by in the early parts of this season.
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