AMSTERDAM – English Championship club Reading FC are the latest to join the growing crowd of suitors around LA Galaxy forward Gyasi Zardes, MLSsoccer.com has confirmed.
As originally reported by Fox Soccer's Keith Costigan via Twitter on Tuesday, the Royals have joined the likes of Belgian side Genk in registering an interest in the US international. A pair of sources close to the situation confirmed to MLSsoccer.com that Reading were indeed browsing Zardes. Costigan also linked another Championship admirer, fast starters Brighton & Hove Albion, as potential bidders.
On Wednesday, Reading manager Steve Clarke made it clear that he was still eager to get in some last-minute shopping before the summer transfer market closes on Sept. 1.
"By my calculations, we've had 14 players out from the end of last season, including loans, and only eight back in," the Reading boss told reporters. "So you can see that there is room to bring a few more in.
"I'm still in the market for a striker. We're still looking, but it’s not easy. They are very expensive and we don't have a lot of money to go and get them."
The Madejski club already have quite the recent history with American players. Danny Williams is currently a midfield regular, while teen striker Andrija Novakovich is just beginning to crack the first team. Former Royals backstop Marcus Hahnemann ended up just one match appearance shy of the club record (282, held by James Harper). Along with then-teammate Bobby Convey, he helped Reading reach the Premier League for the first time ever in 2006.
