RUMOUR - Lewis baker

[Hendo]

Swift in today's press conference:

"If we get Lewis Baker in he's a very technical player and that's what our midfield needs."

[Sutekh]

I'd rather have Tom Baker

[Wisconsin Royal]

I'd rather have Tom Baker

Would rather have a butcher and a candlestick maker.

[Stranded]

Rumours going round that Chelsea will sign Danny Drinkwater shortly freeing up Baker to come on loan to us.

[The Cap]

We definitely need an injection from somewhere. We've only played the one game and, already, it feels as though there's a general malaise around the place. Need to shake off the Wembley hangover as soon as possible. And the best way of doing that is to bring in some youthful exuberance with a touch of quality.

[Hound]

He wasn't named in their squad for the community shield game

I reckon this just a case of them getting a few more bodies in before they let him go

[Mid Sussex Royal]

Evening Standard said tonight he's out on loan imminently - no club mentioned...

[paultheroyal]

Evening Standard said tonight he's out on loan imminently - no club mentioned...

[Z175]

PL clubs can only select 17 foreign-grown players in their 25 man squad and Chelsea only have 3 home grown players (Moses, Fabregas, Cahill) whereas last year they also had Terry, Begovic and Chalobah.

Therefore I think they need Baker to hang around to literally make up the numbers - until they sign Drinkwater or Barkley. (Who are also presumably just to make up the numbers).

If that is the reason then it seems a bit of a back-firing of the home grown rules to me. Baker is currently not getting games and Drinkwater /Barkley would presumably play less at Chelsea, so it would seem the rules are benefiting the national teams of Nigeria, Spain and Bosnia but not England!

Might change post-EU rules perhaps.

[Stranded]

Twitter going crazy that he is going to Boro on a 2 year loan.

[Hound]

Urgh yeah

Was hoping we had his one tied up

[genome]

It's certainly been a classic Reading FC transfer window

[loyalroyal4life]

Gutted we have missed out on him, think he would be a class act in this league

[Nameless]

Which of Swift and Kelly would be displaced if we signed this superstar ?

[windermereROYAL]

It's certainly been a classic Reading FC transfer window

Why is nobody surprised? been there , done that, read the book!!!

[bluerinse]

Heard that Chelsea wanted a £1million + loan fee for Baker. If true, not surprised we backed out.

[mumbo-jumbo]

Has his loan to Boro been officially announced? Has the fat lady actually sung or is there a sliver of hope for a last minute deal?

[Nameless]

Heard that Chelsea wanted a £1million + loan fee for Baker. If true, not surprised we backed out.

Villa have just loaned out a player for a season and are getting a 7 million pound fee !

[Snowflake Royal]

Which of Swift and Kelly would be displaced if we signed this superstar ?

Know nothing about Baker, but I'd prefer Swift to miss out if I had to choose. If he's really good though, either. They'll get opportunities anyway.

[Nameless]

While no player is ever good enough that you can't find and upgrade it would seem odd to hand a long and no doubt lucrative contract extension to a player and then replace him for 2 years.
Likewise it seems likely Kelly will really kick on this season so to sideline him would seem odd.
Of course you can rotate the three of them and there will be injuries etc but I'm a little bemused that we have been looking to sign a player who would replace one of our 3 best players.
Unless Baker could play behind Swift and Kelly (i.e. Instead of Evans /Joey) it seems a touch odd.
Of course if we sign Bacuna it becomes even more complex and I'd certainly think it's one of Bacuna and Baker, not both....