Royals break transfer record
READING have broken their transfer record to sign Fulham forward Sone Aluko - and could continue their spending during Thursday’s deadline day.
Jaap Stam has made no secret of his desire to sign a striker in this window and he finally got his man, bringing to an end a lengthy pursuit of Aluko in a deal reportedly worth £7.5 million.
The Nigerian international has penned a fouryear deal with Reading, becoming the seventh new signing of the window after Vito Mannone, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson, Dave Edwards, Leandro Bacuna, Modou Barrow and Pelle Clement.
Aluko, 28, made a big impression during his sole season at Fulham, scoring nine goals to help the Cottagers reach the play-offs, where they lost to the Royals.
Fulham boss Slavisa Jokanovic has maintained all summer that he wanted to keep Aluko and started him in the club’s first four matches of this season, which included a game at Madejski Stadium.
But the former Hull City, Rangers and Aberdeen man has now completed his move to the Mad Stad, where he will wear the number 14 shirt.
“In Sone, we welcome a quality player to our squad,” said Stam. “With his pace and ability on the ball, he can make life difficult for every opponent we face this season and he has experience of playing at the level we want to play at.
“He poses a threat going forward, he keeps the ball well, he can play as a striker or out on the wing and I am sure he will improve us as a squad.
“I’m very happy he has chosen to join us.”
And the Royals are still being heavily linked with a move for another specialist striker with Nelson Oliveira of Norwich City and Brighton and Hove Albion’s Tomer Hemed among the names on the shortlist.
The club could also still move for cover at rightback while Stephen Quinn and Sandro Wieser will be allowed to depart on deadline day if they wish, with the window slamming shut at 11pm.
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