Is Stam getting unsettled?

[windermereROYAL]

Reading manager Jaap Stam has said that he wants to sign ‘a striker and a midfielder’ before the transfer window shuts in just over a week’s time.

Stam’s declaration, when speaking to the Reading Chronicle after their 3-1 win over Millwall in the second round of the Carabao Cup, comes following speculation that the Royals have had a £4m bid rejected for Brighton striker Tomer Hemed and strong links to Huddersfield’s Nakhi Wells.
The ex-Manchester United defender has also urged the Reading hierarchy to move fast for their targets or risk having to pay extortionate prices as the end of the transfer window nears.
“We are heading towards the end of the transfer window so it’s going to get harder and harder,” stressed Stam. “The longer we wait, the more expensive players get.”
Stam later questioned the abilities of new chief executive Ron Gourlay and director of football Brian Tevreden, who are in charge of recruitment, implying that he is unsure whether they will recruit the players that he wishes.
“If it was up to me, I am very confident of bringing players in, but it’s not up to me.”
“I want to bring players in and we need to bring players in. I’ve spoken with the club about it, even before I signed.”

Following their play-off final defeat to Huddersfield in May, Reading have struggled to retain and recruit players and, as a result, only named six out of a possible seven substitutes on their opening day trip to Queens Park Rangers.
The forthcoming few days appear of significant importance to Stam, who could begin to feel disheartened by the lack of action if his wishes are not fulfilled by the board at the Madejski Stadium.

Brian and Ron need to get their collective fingers out

[Nameless]

The bit about us struggling to retain and recruit players is bizarre.
To lose just 2 players after a playoff defeat when one was out of contract is quite amazing really and we're one player short of a good summer of buying.,
You can understand Stam being a little frustrated but you can see reasons why some of the possible deals have not yet happened (Wells getting knackered, Brighton struggling to sign a forward)

[Jim Royal]

It's not just exclusive to Reading if you believe all the transfer gossip. Lot's of clubs failing to bring in their targets this summer for various reasons.

[West Stand Man]

As to the price of our targets going up as the end of the window approaches, that is arguable. If the selling club wants to lose the player then they could also be keen to see the transaction take place to offload a liability. Holding out for a few extra days allows them to test the market and see if any other potential buyers come forward. If they are lucky then someone will challenge our bid and help raise the price. If not then we are the front runners, probably not at a price reduction but at the last offer.

It is all a case of 'what ifs'.

[windermereROYAL]

Reading boss Jaap Stam has said that it is a shame that Siem De Jong has not joined the Royals, according to reports in Dutch publication, VI.
Stam had hoped to bring De Jong to the Madejski Stadium, but De Jong is said to be nearing a return to boyhood club Ajax.
The player joined Newcastle back in 2014, but his chances have been severely limited on Tyneside, having made just 22 league appearances during three unhappy years with the club.
A loan move to PSV last season helped De Jong to rediscover some form, and a permanent switch back to his homeland is certainly on the cards this summer.
De Jong scored 57 goals in 168 league appearances when he graduated from the youth set up, and his return to the club will be a welcome boost as the Dutch giants aim to pick up their first title since De Jong left the club in 2014.

Stam will now have to pursue different targets, with the close of the summer transfer window fast approaching.
The Verdict: Stam’s admission suggests that he made clear moves to bring the player to Berkshire, but was ultimately rejected so that De Jong could move back to Ajax.
The Dutchman will not begrudge the player the move, having finished his own career with the Amsterdam club, but will be disappointed that he could not tempt De Jong to the Championship.
Stam must now move on, and secure other targets before the summer window slams shut in the next few weeks.

[Hound]

Much as I like and rate Stam, he does enjoy a little whinge now and again

Wouldn't really read a huge amount into it. At least we've got some quality in this year and spent a few quid since the new owners came along

[Platypuss]

Just another "we need a striker " thread really.

[surrounded by saints]

I wouldnt be supprised to see Jaap walk away if he doesnt get his transfer targets.

[surrounded by saints]

I wouldnt be supprised to see Jaap walk away if he doesnt get his transfer targets.

[surrounded by saints]

I,m so sure i posted twice. Lol

[Lower West]

Reading have struggled to retain and recruit players and, as a result, only named six out of a possible seven substitutes on their opening day trip to Queens Park Rangers.

Poor journalism. Injury crisis. Story over nothing. Move on.

[Nameless]

I wouldnt be supprised to see Jaap walk away if he doesnt get his transfer targets.

I think it is less likely than us appointing Neil Warnock as caretaker....
Would be utterly out of character for Stam.

[FiNeRaIn]

At least we've got some quality in this year and spent a few quid since the new owners came along

Thats the issue though, we haven't got enough. We are still lacking strikers and we keep buying wingers and midfielders. You can have 100 wingers but unless someone can score you 15-20 goals a season up front it doesn't matter.

Stam is entitled to whinge a bit. He was obviously promised financial backing for transfers when he signed his contract and its now a week before the deadline and he hasn't got the players he wants.

Are these Chinense people really billionaires, we really aren't seeing anywhere near the sort of investment we were expecting. No one is saying pull a wolves or a villa but we should be spending 8-12 million on firepower. That sort of fee could get top goalscorers in many foreign leagues to join with ease.

[Nameless]

We've got 2 big central strikers, plenty of wingers and a number of players who play in attacking roles. If it wasn't for injuries we wouldn't be saying we are short of strikers. It's debateable whether spending £10 million on a striker as injury cover makes sense, although of course it would be lovely to do it.
By all accounts we've made a number of bids in the millions but for a variety of reasons they've not come off (yet).
As for 'not seeing the investment we expected' I think you have got rather out of touch. No one was expecting us to spend £20 million. We've spent probably £10 million under the Chinese already and the bids we've been making for strikers would push us up towards that £20 million net spend. If we bought the midfielder and defender we are reported to be after as well we might be pushing up towards £25 million given the prices we've been paying generally. How is that not a significant level of investment ?

[Snowflake Royal]

We've got 2 big central strikers, plenty of wingers and a number of players who play in attacking roles. If it wasn't for injuries we wouldn't be saying we are short of strikers. It's debateable whether spending £10 million on a striker as injury cover makes sense, although of course it would be lovely to do it.
By all accounts we've made a number of bids in the millions but for a variety of reasons they've not come off (yet).
As for 'not seeing the investment we expected' I think you have got rather out of touch. No one was expecting us to spend £20 million. We've spent probably £10 million under the Chinese already and the bids we've been making for strikers would push us up towards that £20 million net spend. If we bought the midfielder and defender we are reported to be after as well we might be pushing up towards £25 million given the prices we've been paying generally. How is that not a significant level of investment ?

Particularly given the club is paying 120% ish of its income in wages alone, now have no parachute payments having done almost nothing to reduce the outgoings and there's a limit to how much the Chinese can pump without risking a FFP fine, that inevitably we wouldn't get away with because we're not QPR or a big club.

[windermereROYAL]

We've got 2 big central strikers, plenty of wingers and a number of players who play in attacking roles. If it wasn't for injuries we wouldn't be saying we are short of strikers. It's debateable whether spending £10 million on a striker as injury cover makes sense, although of course it would be lovely to do it.
By all accounts we've made a number of bids in the millions but for a variety of reasons they've not come off (yet).
As for 'not seeing the investment we expected' I think you have got rather out of touch. No one was expecting us to spend £20 million. We've spent probably £10 million under the Chinese already and the bids we've been making for strikers would push us up towards that £20 million net spend. If we bought the midfielder and defender we are reported to be after as well we might be pushing up towards £25 million given the prices we've been paying generally. How is that not a significant level of investment ?

We really have no idea when Kermy will be back. this side of Christmas, who knows? but bare in mind he`s retiring after this season so we need to bring in a new striker in the long term.

[Nameless]

Stam will have a fair idea when the strikers will be fit. Bodvarsson is very close isn't he and Kermogant a month or so ?
Kermogant retires next summer so no panic to replace him now, it's just business as usual. Every club pretty much changes a third of their squad every year.

[Hound]

Kermie back in 6 or 7 weeks according to Stam

Sounds like he is healing up ok

[maffff]

At least we've got some quality in this year and spent a few quid since the new owners came along

Thats the issue though, we haven't got enough. We are still lacking strikers and we keep buying wingers and midfielders. You can have 100 wingers but unless someone can score you 15-20 goals a season up front it doesn't matter.

Stam is entitled to whinge a bit. He was obviously promised financial backing for transfers when he signed his contract and its now a week before the deadline and he hasn't got the players he wants.

Are these Chinense people really billionaires, we really aren't seeing anywhere near the sort of investment we were expecting. No one is saying pull a wolves or a villa but we should be spending 8-12 million on firepower. That sort of fee could get top goalscorers in many foreign leagues to join with ease.

How haven't we got enough though? Didn't we have enough last year - the team that finished 3rd, lost Ali, replaced with Mannone who looks a decent acquisition (and has some strengths where people moaned about whether Ali suited our style), lost Williams, who we've replaced with Bacuna and maybe Edwards too. Everyone else that left were fringe or youth and we've now got an abundance of extra quality in depth, plus players that can being different things to the team.

Yes, a striker would be great. We all know that, but how can we moan about investment when we've already spent somewhere between £7.5 and £10.25m (which is surely the most we've ever spent in a window by some way) with what appears to be another £1m on Edwards, possibly £8m on a striker (and I have a feeling we might still see Aluko too).

We already have a damn sight more than we did last season. We've also been somewhat unlucky with having Kermorgant, Obita, Beerens, GMac and Bod out so far...

Half the league are moaning they need a striker. Wolves, Villa, Leeds.... clubs that are spending money.