Harvey Knibbs

[Hendo]

https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-reading-agree-to-sign-aston-villa-product-knibbs-with-medical-scheduled/

Sources: Reading agree to sign Aston Villa product Knibbs with medical scheduled
Reading have agreed a deal to sign forward Harvey Knibbs on a free transfer, sources have told Football Insider.

The 24-year-old is set to undergo a medical at the Berkshire club.

Reading have reached a full agreement over a deal for Knibbs after fending off interest from rival clubs.

The attacker made 47 appearances across all competitions for Cambridge last season, scoring five goals and providing six assists.

The former Aston Villa youngster will help bolster Reading’s attacking options having seen a number of players leave following their relegation from the Championship.

Knibbs spent two years with the Villans’ under-23s side before joining Cambridge United on a permanent deal in 2019.

The striker made 28 appearances for the under-18s and 29-appearances for the under-21s and scored a total of 17 goals and provided four assists in those outings.

Earlier this month (2 June), Football Insider revealed that Championship side Huddersfield Town were keen on signing the striker this summer and had been keeping tabs on him throughout the season.

The attacker was also attracting interest from Derby County and Bristol City who had also been following him last seaosn.

Now, it is Reading who have landed Knibbs’ services for the 2023-24 campaign and beyond.

The Royals were relegated from the Championship after finishing 22nd in the division.

The club begin their League One campaign and will be hopeful to head straight back up to the Championship.

In other news, Reading are set to appoint former Southampton manager as deal agreed.

From usually reliable Pete O'Rourke

[YorkshireRoyal99]

24 years old so not a kid anymore and should potentially be coming into his best years. Not a bad record at a troubled Cambridge from last season and I think one or two that have seen Cambridge on here spoke fairly highly of him as well.

Hopefully with some better players around him we might be able to see a bit more output goals/assists wise but I'd trust the club with this judgement anyway and I'm pretty pleased with this, on paper at least anyway. Not seen much of him but seems to come with some good ratings from others as well. A positive amongst the chaos by the sounds of it.

[On Strings]

Cambridge rate the lad highly. Sounds promising.

[Brogue]

24, free, lower league experience, ok let’s see what he can do. The only question I would have is, is he any better than Clarke or Ehib? And are signings like this blocking academy products coming through? Either way he’s free and will be on small wages so worth a punt I suppose.

[Hound]

Looks hopeful. Was he the chap someone asked Ian about, a winger I think who was a bit lightweight?

Left a nice message and video to say goodbye to cufc I see. Seems a good chap

[Stranded]

Goal or Assist every 286 minutes at L1 level and at 24 should still improve.

If this comes to pass, exactly the kind of signing we should be looking at and positive signs that we are able to attract players.

[Stranded]

Also looking at Transfermarkt - he doesn't seem to be an out and out striker, more of a #10 who can play up front.

[Royal_jimmy]

Him and Sam Smith as a double signing would be good

[Snowflake Royal]

24 years old so not a kid anymore and should potentially be coming into his best years. Not a bad record at a troubled Cambridge from last season and I think one or two that have seen Cambridge on here spoke fairly highly of him as well.

Hopefully with some better players around him we might be able to see a bit more output goals/assists wise but I'd trust the club with this judgement anyway and I'm pretty pleased with this, on paper at least anyway. Not seen much of him but seems to come with some good ratings from others as well. A positive amongst the chaos by the sounds of it.

Played as a winger, not a striker when I saw him. Looked light weight but tidy. Got stick for lack of effort from the home fans.

Much like the whole Cambridge side there was some skill there, but not much backbone or end product.

Although his record belies that performance on end product at least. If you asked me Azeez or Camara or Knibbs, I wouldn't chose the latter off the one game I saw.

Right kind of signing, but don't expect too much given he was fighting L1 relegation last season.

I'll ask around too.

[Snowflake Royal]

From the game I saw, if I was going to sign anyone from Cambridge it would be:

Morrison
Bennett (RB)
McGrandles
Brophy
Smith

In that order.

[blythspartan]

I remember mentioning this player a few weeks ago as my mate from Ely has seen him play for Cambridge and rates him highly.

[Snowflake Royal]

I remember mentioning this player a few weeks ago as my mate from Ely has seen him play for Cambridge and rates him highly.

I think he said he was a striker, which didn’t seem to fit. Was used LW from what I can see.

[Stranded]

From the comments from Cambridge fans on Twitter, view seems to be that this best role was just behind the main striker but had been used on either wing and done ok there but better suited in an advanced central role.

[WestYorksRoyal]

I know nothing about him, but reasonable stats for an attacking midfielder in a struggling team. A bit of experience but at an age where he can still improve.

So sounds like the right sort of signing.

[Clyde1998]

From the comments from Cambridge fans on Twitter, view seems to be that this best role was just behind the main striker but had been used on either wing and done ok there but better suited in an advanced central role.

Sounds like he could be quite good behind Andy Carroll. One our of big issues has been Carroll winning flick ons but being thirty yards away from anyone else, so we lose the ball. This guy seems to have a bit of pace about him, so would have the ability to cause defences problems simply by running at them.

[NathStPaul]

CONFIRMED

[NathStPaul]

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/j ... he-royals/

[Clyde1998]

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2023/july/13/harvey-knibbs-signs-a-three-year-year-contract-with-the-royals/

Great news!

[paultheroyal]

Looking at Cambridge sites etc they highly praise his work ethic, chasing causes, closing down players, selles high press incoming!!

[YorkshireRoyal99]

Glad to get this over the line, at least it's something. Hopefully he will be able to flourish with ourselves.