Squad for 2025-2026

[Snowflake Royal]

Actually asking to be highest paid, or asking for £12k which would make him the highest paid?

Either way, I'd find it surprising, and no wonder we wouldn't agree to it. Assuming its true, which I'm skeptical about.

I could see £6k or £7k being at the higher end of feasible for him. But in a midfield packed with quality, absolutely no way he's getting a Championship wage in L1.

No one in our squad should be on 5 figures a week. Maybe a marquee striker with pedigree would be close if we go big on them.

[Hound]

Yes admit I’m not convinced

Personally think he prob wanted a 2 or 3 year deal and was offered 1. And probably a bit more cash than on offer but not 10k+

[scumbag]

10k+ seems insane considering he wasn't a pillar of the team. I can only imagine that includes a considerable signing on fee which he's probably being offered elsewhere. He's a good little player but I feel like most players are replaceable at L1 level.

[Linden Jones' Tash]

£12k a week + NI ect is the best part of £600k a year...

You won't get many of those into a L1 wages budget that pays for itself...

[Stranded]

Assuming that is true, and I doubt everything where this sort of info is concerned, then the demands are that of a player who didn't actually want to sign but would if the club "made it worth his while".

[Snowflake Royal]

Assuming that is true, and I doubt everything where this sort of info is concerned, then the demands are that of a player who didn't actually want to sign but would if the club "made it worth his while".

It's certainly funny that one minute people are claiming we have the second lowest wage bill in L1 at about £3m a year, whilst we're supposedly spending/losing £1m a month. Then apparently one of our junior first team players is demanding £12k a week to sign a new contract. Which would be roughly 15% of our entire alleged wage budget. And presumably something like a 300% pay rise.

Info circulated on wages just has no credibility.

[MR. CYNICAL]

Assuming that is true, and I doubt everything where this sort of info is concerned, then the demands are that of a player who didn't actually want to sign but would if the club "made it worth his while".

It's certainly funny that one minute people are claiming we have the second lowest wage bill in L1 at about £3m a year, whilst we're supposedly spending/losing £1m a month. Then apparently one of our junior first team players is demanding £12k a week to sign a new contract. Which would be roughly 15% of our entire alleged wage budget. And presumably something like a 300% pay rise.

Info circulated on wages just has no credibility.

Wouldn't call him a junior first team player, young yes, he was immense season before last as a holding midfielder

[Royal_jimmy]

I take it all with a pinch of salt; I don't believe it being honest. If true, he obviously didn't want to stay, as he must have known he's not worth that. Nobody else will offer him that.

If £12k a week would have made him the highest paid player in the squad.

What is the current highest paid weekly wage at Reading FC?

Would imagine it'll be one of Wing or JP - probably around £8k - £10kish?

Yeah maybe, I'd probably say £8k ish.

I don't think a single player in the division is paid £12k now Birmingham and Wrexham are out of the league.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Sounds like Matty Jacob is happening today; even the local press have picked it up.

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Okine Peters & Luke Howard have both extended; think that's pretty much all the U21's retained.

[WestYorksRoyal]

Sounds like Matty Jacobs on loan is basically done and Mark O'Mahony is getting there.

We have 5 loan spots, and if we use them smartly we'll be in great shape.

[morganb]

Michael Craig now officially gone to Leyton Orient (as mentioned up-thread)

[traff]

Confirmed Craig gone to the Orient £££££££

[Brogue]

I mean one day I might get some recognition…

[traff]

I mean one day I might get some recognition…

Well done, I will make you a hat!

[WestYorksRoyal]

Confirmed Craig gone to the Orient £££££££

I wasn't aware Orient had £££££. Stockport and Wycombe yes, but do we need to add another historically smaller club to the list?

It does confuse a bit; you'd think these mid sized towns/suburbs in London and Manchester with giant clubs on their doorstep will struggle to get beyond a certain ceiling even with money behind them. Orient are very close to West Ham, for example. I'm also bewildered nobody higher up the chain has gone after Wellens yet given his record.

Maybe just a reality check for me. I'll be honest and say when the takeover happened I thought we'd be one of the most appealing options in the league; I didn't expect good players with a big role to play (which is the case for Craig) to join Leyton Orient.

[Uke]

I mean one day I might get some recognition…

You only copy what Huang Kad posts

[Hendo]

Michael Craig now officially gone to Leyton Orient (as mentioned up-thread)

Club statement made a point of confirming multiple multi-year deals had been offered. Must be all down to money.

Good that we'll get a fee for him as well.

[Sutekh]

Revised list

5 GOALKEEPERS

Tom NORCOTT - 2026
Joel PEREIRA - 2028
Matthew ROWLEY - 2026
Jack STEVENS - 2027
Josh WELLAND - 2027

6 RIGHT BACKS

Kelvin ABREFA - 2026
Ashqar AHMED - 2027
Boyd BEACROFT - 2026
Emmanuel OSHO - 2026
Tivonge RUSHESHA - 2026 - also defensive midfielder
Andy YIADOM - 2026 - also centre back

3 LEFT BACKS

John CLARKE - 2026
Andre GARCIA - 2026 - also attacking midfielder
Matty JACOB - 2026 - on loan from Hull City (medical today)

6 CENTRE BACKS

Jeriel DORSETT - 2026
Philip DUAH - 2026
Abraham KANU - 2026
Paudie O’CONNOR - 2029
John RYAN - 2026
Michael STICKLAND - 2026 (+1 year option)

Sam HARRISON - 2026 (Sam is listed everywhere as just a Defender).

5 CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Joseph BAROUGH - 2026
Ben ELLIOTT - 2026
Luke HOWARD - 2026
Charlie SAVAGE - 2027
Lewis WING - 2028

2 DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDERS

Jacob HAMMOND-CHAMBERS-BORGNIS - 2026
Shay SPENCER - 2026

4 ATTACKING MIDFIELDERS

Carter-Blue BOWDERY - 2026
Mamadi CAMARA - 2026
Harvey KNIBBS - 2026
Jeremiah OKINE-PETERS - 2026

1 STRIKER

Basil TUMA - 2026

Still to officially decide:

Kelvin Ehibatiomhan

The OS lists Tyler Sackey still, thought he had left the club?

Considered as 1st team squad

Would expect to see right winger Okine-Peters make a breakthrough this season given his age (23).

Matty Jacob undergoing medical today

https://www.footballinsider247.com/excl ... ve-agreed/

[Sutekh]

Confirmed Craig gone to the Orient £££££££

I wasn't aware Orient had £££££. Stockport and Wycombe yes, but do we need to add another historically smaller club to the list?

It does confuse a bit; you'd think these mid sized towns/suburbs in London and Manchester with giant clubs on their doorstep will struggle to get beyond a certain ceiling even with money behind them. Orient are very close to West Ham, for example. I'm also bewildered nobody higher up the chain has gone after Wellens yet given his record.

Maybe just a reality check for me. I'll be honest and say when the takeover happened I thought we'd be one of the most appealing options in the league; I didn't expect good players with a big role to play (which is the case for Craig) to join Leyton Orient.

Orient are in the process of flogging Ethan Galbraith to Swansea for around £1.6m so presumably are targetting Craig as his replacement, therefore a bit of project to sell to a player that is, I believe, nearer his roots. Presume that is why he’s reportedly asked for £ludicrous from Reading. Development fee share with Spurs incoming.