Reading Rumours in Transfers/Rumours/Team News from Football.co.uk

floody · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:17 pm

CFCBhoy wrote:

Tell you what Flumpy, straight swap, Balde for Hunt!

I know, I know, were getting the raw deal here but this is a sacrafice we are willing to make. I await your response

How about.................

No?

CFCBhoy · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:19 pm

You'll regret that

floody · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 4:19 pm

J-Axe · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:33 pm

Big Bobo would be great for Reading.

He reminds me of Samba, only just not as good. But that's still a fine Defender.

Can't see Hunt or Doyle going for definite. I thought Shorey would have gone soon.

floody · Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 6:36 pm

As i said provided we could find a sufficient replacement I can see us letting him go.

Lita will be off at some point also.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:05 pm

Quote:

Reading have completed the signing of Marek Matejovsky from Mlada Boleslav for an undisclosed fee.

The Czech Republic international has penned a three-and-a-half year contract with The Royals as manager Steve Coppell looks to bolster his squad for the second half of the season.

The 26-year-old midfielder confirmed the deal, expressing his determination to succeed in England's top flight.

"The Premier League is the world's best league. I know where I am going; I have already arranged the housing situation.

"I am leaving for England today together with my family. I hope I will show I can play football well," Matejovsky told Sport.cz.

Not sure what to think with this signing to be honest. I have never heard of this player and don't even know his game - attacking, defensive etc. Undisclosed fee as well.

J-Axe · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:16 pm

Breaking into the Czech National team, and starred in the win over Germany that put them through to the Euro Cup finals.

Can't be a bad player.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:18 pm

Yeah i suppose.

Do you know anything of his game Axe?

Also today it has been confirmed that we rejected a further bid of �3M from Sunderland for Stephen Hunt.

J-Axe · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:22 pm

I watched that German game and he was pretty good from what I recall. Not the most creative or explosive, but a bit of a work-horse and decent control and pass.

That's all really. He just did a solid job in that one game I saw. He's no Rosick�. Wink

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:26 pm

Well i reserve judgment due to my lack of knowledge of him, but good to see we have purchased a central Midfielder to add in competion and a decent passer of the ball.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 6:55 pm

Quote:

Reading Football Club have agreed to sign Czech Republic international midfielder Marek Matejovsky for an undisclosed fee from Mlada Boleslav.

Paperwork for the signature of the 26-year-old should be completed on Tuesday, when Marek is due to meet his new teammates and be introduced to the media.

He will sign a three-and-a-half year contract to the summer of 2011.

He is a regular in the Czech national team, and scored in the highly impressive 3-0 victory in Germany in October to help the Czechs win their group. He also played in the UEFA Cup this season.

Director of Football Nick Hammond said, "Marek is primarily a central midfield player but he is also capable of playing in both wide positions or behind the strikers.

"He has been playing for a smaller club in the Czech league but he is an established international who is likely to be included in the very strong Czech Republic squad in the Euro 2008 Finals.

"He is a player we have been following for some time, and when the opportunity arose to sign him it was too good to turn down."

Some more info from our site about him. Seems like a very versatile, tidy Midfielder who has an attacking nous. The more i read the more i become impressed with this signing although obviously i can't comprehensively say until i see him play.

Quote:

Steve Coppell has spoken for the first time on our new signing Marek Matejovsky.

The Czech Republic international midfielder has agreed a contract with the Club untill 2011.

Steve told readingfc.co.uk, "He's bright, bubbly, intelligent and we hope he can be a good acquisition.

"He's flexible, he's a good player. He can play centrally or wide, he's a bubbly character and can slot in a number of places.

"He's got the European Championships coming up this summer, he want to push on and do well to get in the team.

"He's the right kind of fit.

"Brian McDermott and Nick Hammond do a terrific job unearthing players who fall under our compass, so to speak.

"Brian has known about him for a year, he's the one with the knowledge, reviewing tapes and watching games.

"Then I come in at a later stage to see DVDs and tapes, and in this case I saw the back end of a game for the Czech Republic."

Steve continued, "In this window we certainly won't be doing anything like a panic signing or a four-month signing.

"We like to think we'll do deals that can go on and give value for a number of years.

"Value for money is important to us, and we hope to add value in this case."

A press conference with Marek is scheduled for 3pm on Tuesday.

The Gaffer's thoughts on the signing, due to be completed and unveiled tomorrow.

J-Axe · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:26 pm

Cool then. Look forward to seeing him play. Seems like a good acquisition.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:28 pm

Agreed. Hopefully another great find from McDermott.

floody · Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2008 4:56 pm

floody · Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 12:29 pm

We have turned down a further two bids of up to �4.5 million for Stephen Hunt from Numpty Keane up in Sunderland, hopefully the message will be loud and clear that he is not for sale by now. Rumours for incoming players seemed to have died down somewhat as far as i can see, but i am confident that Marek Matejovsky will not be the only player we bring in this month.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:29 pm

Also in the past week i have heard we are sniffing around Cardiff's Joe Ledley, a signing that would impress me i must say and Crystal Palace Centre Midfielder Ben Watson, a signing that i would prefer to arise in the Summer if at all (providing they do not go up).

I have been thoroughly impressed whenever i have seen Ledley though, and he can play across the Midfield creating chances and distributing the ball effectively. We are also reported to have serious competition for him from higher reputation clubs which concerns me a little, as is Cardiff's apparent �5 million valuation for him.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 7:37 pm

Erik Edman is also a possibility as it is believed that us, Brum and Wigan have offered him a deal to depart Rennes, i hope this is true as i think he would be a superb signing with Premier League experience.

Leroy Lita by my reckoning is off this window certainly.

floody · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2008 6:46 pm

Quote:

Reading have agreed a deal to sign Malian international forward Jimmy Kebe.

The 23-year-old is out of contract in the summer and has agreed a deal to join The Royals.

Steve Coppell wants Kebe now, rather than waiting until the summer, and his current club Lens have agreed to an immediate transfer.

But there is a major problem as Kebe is currently on a season-long loan to second division Boulogne - who do not want to release him early.

Now Kebe is hoping that the deal can be concluded this month to let him go to Reading.

"I did not expect to get a chance like this so early, but I went to the coach [Coppell] and spoke with him directly - which apparently Boulogne did not like so much," he told Football365 in France.

Hope

Kebe is shocked Boulogne are standing in his way.

"I thought that when Reading was going to agree with Lens, everything will be settled," he said.

"When I went to see the coach, I thought he would be happy for me and he was going to let me go. I did not think it would go so far.

"I have always dreamed of going to England, this is an opportunity to play against the likes of Arsenal or Manchester United, to face players like Cristiano Ronaldo. It is the chance of my life.

"This can only be beneficial for my progression, I said this to Philippe Montanier [Boulogne boss] but for the moment it has stopped."

Kebe says Coppell's personal touch won the day for him.

"I had several offers, but the coach didn't necessarily call me - but the coach at Reading did," he added.

"Steve Coppell called me and told me he wanted me and that is obviously flattering."

Hmm..... I had never really heard of Matejovsky, but the guy is a Czech Republic international but i certainly have never heard of this Kebe, who we have a agreed a deal for. But that's not to say he isn't talented, we have picked up lots of relatively unknown players over the years that have proved great buys. Not really an impact signing though which still suggests that there are one or two signings on the way, primarily a CB. Lita or Co, or both, may be off with this signing.

floody · Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 7:24 pm

Quote:

Steve Coppell says the Royals are continuing to go about their business in this transfer window, and confirmed that the Club have made an enquiry about Mali international midfield man Jimmy Kebe.

Speaking in an interview with our online TV station Reading World, the boss said, "I never think any deal is close until a player is in the room and signing the paperwork.

"We're speaking to a couple of clubs about things.

"I get probably a dozen calls a day from agents, with Nick Hammond and Brian McDermott getting double that!

"Every day the market changes. Someone might do a deal, another club gets someone injured, they sign someone and that frees up some money elsewhere.

"There's loads going on, it's an ever-changing picture. We have to be there or thereabouts."

Meanwhile, the Club have also said they have held discussions with a club in England regarding a defender.

They have also confirmed they do not want to sign Udo Nwoko, a striker based in Malta.

Polish international keeper Wojciech Kowalewski is currently training with us.

Kebe is currently on loan at Boulogne from Lens. He has been in good goalscoring form for Boulogne, with five goals in his 14 starts this season.

He turns 24 this Sunday. He has three goals for Mali, but is not part of their squad for the African Cup Of Nations, which begins this month.

Good to hear Coppell putting the rumours about this Nigerian/Maltese forward coming to the squad to bed as he really is not needed.

We need a CB fast. We are also close to closing in on the Kebe deal, of which i am still a little skeptical of. Good to have a keeper on trial, see what he's like. Has international and CL experience.

floody · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:36 pm

Quote:

Reading Football Club have completed the signing of Jimmy Kebe for an undisclosed fee from Lens.

The 24-year-old will sign a two-and-a-half year contract until the summer of 2010.

Kebe is a Malian international who has been on loan from Lens at US Boulogne in the French Second Division this season, where he has scored five goals in 16 appearances.

Director of Football Nick Hammond told readingfc.co.uk, "Jimmy is a winger who has a bit of pace and is a good size at more than six feet tall. He is right footed but is comfortable on both wings.

"He's been playing in the French Second Division, so hasn't really been on a lot of Club's radars.

"We've been aware of him for some time, and every time our staff have watched him he's had a major impact on a game.

"Obviously it's a massive step up from that level to the English Premier League. But the same could have been said for a number of our players when they first came to the Club.

"They have made the transition and we hope Jimmy can do the same."

Chairman John Madejski added, "I am very pleased to welcome Jimmy Kebe to Reading Football Club.

"He is a talented player who I hope will become an important member of our squad."

Nick Hammond also expressed his thanks to US Boulogne for their assistance in helping the deal to bring Kebe to Reading possible.

He added, "For what is a reasonably small deal in Premier League terms, it has been quite complicated because of the contractual situation.

"But our dealings with both Lens and US Boulogne have been very amicable and I would especially like to thank the President of US Boulogne Mr Jacques Wattez whose co-operation was crucial in making it happen."

All wrapped up now. We have been after him for a few weeks now and seems like persistence has paid off. I admit i wasn't too overjoyed when i first learned of our serious interest, somewhat naively perhaps, as we have picked up so many players here under Coppell that have not been high profile signings by any stretch of the imagination but have come in and been superb. Ingimarsson, Little, Sonko, Cisse, Convey, Hunt, Doyle, Long etc all being prime examples. I'm pleased we have signed a wide player who can play most importantly on the right hand side as that void has been diffciult to fill as a result of Glen Little's longterm Achilles injuries. He sounds quite a versatile, strong, with some pace and ability to impact games. I welcome him to the Club and hope he fits in here.

Some pictures from his signing:

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