SQUADWATCH - Summer 2026

[Hound]

Yeah I wouldn’t see that side pushing for promotion but I think it’d be better than last year performance wise

But add a couple of really good signings on top and it might not be miles off. And there’s decent depth this year already

[Extended-Phenotype]

Meh, hype and hope aren’t synonymous. There’s promise in the team. I’d rather look to what players might achieve than what they might not. Else it makes following football quite a miserable hobby.

[WestYorksRoyal]

What's going on with Stokes?

[Sutekh]

[WestYorksRoyal]

Maybe we should get Gabby Heinze to join our backroom staff too. We already have Coleman.

[MR. CYNICAL]

What's going on with Stokes?

Nothing probably

[SouthDownsRoyal]

Maybe we should get Gabby Heinze to join our backroom staff too. We already have Coleman.

He’s mustard.

[Crowbar6753]

Stokes has signed !!!! not sure whether its a loan or fee?

[Crowbar6753]

On loan for the season!!! great news. Its slowly coming together.....

[Hound]

Good signing on paper. Was hoping for a perm deal but happy with it anyway

[Orion1871]

On loan for the season!!! great news. Its slowly coming together.....

Are you sure? Brogue said permanent deal.

[AthleticoSpizz]

What's going on with Stokes?

Nothing probably

we await your negativity with bated breath

[Sutekh]

On loan for the season!!! great news. Its slowly coming together.....

Are you sure? Brogue said permanent deal.

Brogue wrong on that bit. Season long loan. Confrimed

https://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/2026/j ... kes-signs/

[royals6719]

Another signed jumping off the ............................... https://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/spor ... AwODkyAAEe

[WestYorksRoyal]

We're only 2 or 3 bodies short now. Very well set up for pre season

[Clyde1998]

We're only 2 or 3 bodies short now. Very well set up for pre season

Yeah. The complaint about getting most of our business done too late last season seems to have been addressed and hopefully that means we can make the most out of pre-season.

[stealthpapes]

So my list remains

Three defenders, at least one a centre back and one more flexible

Two attacking midfielders, maybe not wingers but looking for pace and flexibility

One striker

Since this we’ve signed a centre back, an attacking midfielder and appear to be in line for another.

So, I guess a centre back, utility defender, striker remains my list.

If an academy player fills the gap in practise, that’s good.

Stokes was the other attacking midfielder.

I still think we're short cover/bodies in defence and a striker who fits around Marriott/Kelv/Patton? would be excellent.

[stealthpapes]

We're only 2 or 3 bodies short now. Very well set up for pre season

Yeah. The complaint about getting most of our business done too late last season seems to have been addressed and hopefully that means we can make the most out of pre-season.

It is ALMOST as if there were only 7 pros at the club at the start of last summer and the new owners came in relatively late and it was worse behind the scenes than they were expecting.

Maybe could have done better, did alright - if not outright good - for a long swathe of last season, looks like they're learning and growing.

[Sutekh]

Where’s our next signing?

[Hound]

I’m a bit suprised (not criticising, just suprised) on the u21 who have gone to Spain

I think Osho is prob the closest to the first team. Ahmed is still rated which is good. Then Beacroft it seems

Was expecting Sackey and maybe Spencer and Kanu/Duah.

I do like what I’ve seen from Osho and Ahmed generally so be nice to see them make the first team squads