Why I’m feeling optimistic about transfers

AS I write this piece on Tuesday night, I’m fully aware this article could completely backfire in seven days time. At this stage, Reading have made two signings during the transfer window so far – and you know what? I don’t have any complaints about either.

Tom Dele-Bashiru looks like an exciting young player who could become a real asset for the Royals over the next nine months or so.

After suffering an ACL injury with parent club Watford last season, he will be hoping to stake his claim for a starting spot and show the Hornets why they should have retained him for the 2021/22 campaign.

The signs have been good from the 21-year-old thus far, now is the time for him to put in consistent performances and make a difference to a side that needs someone to reignite their season.

And the addition of Junior Hoilett is just as impressive. The Royals have been crying out for an orthodox winger for ages and in the Canadian, they have someone who can run at defenders, hug the touchline and make a real difference out wide.

The 31-year-old brings a wealth of Championship experience to the Select Car Leasing Stadium and in a relatively young side, this can only pay dividends.

These types of signings are likely to provide value for money, something we haven’t managed to get from enough players in the Dai era.

With EFL restrictions still in place, free transfers and further loans are likely to be on the agenda in Berkshire and to be honest, I’m half-relieved we aren’t able to splash out on players.

There’s nothing like freedom in the transfer market and we have found out this summer, but we seem to be able to make more signings now and the restrictions that are still in place mean we won’t be spending wildly between now and the end of the window.

As a club that has never been good with money, this is a good thing. Just take a look at some of our record signings. Emerse Fae proved to be a disaster, Tiago Ilori is probably the best of this bunch but didn’t do anything to write home about, Sone Aluko’s move didn’t work out and as things stand, George Puscas is not living up to his price tag.

We might not be in the best state right now, but I just back the club to make a few really good signings between now and the transfer deadline.

Josh Laurent and Michael Morrison have proved to be vital additions on free transfers in the past couple of years, showing we can recruit wisely when we want to.

A left-back, another winger and a striker are needed before the window shuts, no question about that. It’s simply a non-negotiable if we want to compete in the Championship.

But we could also benefit from a right-back to compete with Andy Yiadom in the absence of Felipe Araruna and potentially add another forward with Lucas Joao possibly out until January. Our injury record in recent years means we need as many players as we can get over the line before the end of the month, so the three essentials may not even be sufficient in a tough 46-game campaign.

This makes the next week crucial to the destiny of our 2021/22 season, but I’m strangely excited for what could be about to come.