Reading left-back Andre Garcia could play against Barnsley on Tuesday night, with Amadou Mbengue suspended.
Mbengue’s fifth yellow card of the season against Peterborough United last weekend means he will be unavailable for the midweek trip.
Harlee Dean, Louie Holzman, or Abraham Kanu might replace Mbengue in the Royals’ lineup.
Dean is an experienced head to have in the first 11, and he has improved this season, so he should be considered for a starting position.
Holzman has performed well in the EFL Trophy this season, particularly against Cheltenham Town and Newport County.
However, Kanu came on against Posh last Saturday and performed admirably.
Kanu is still inexperienced, but he did a decent performance and may merit a spot in the starting 11.
Ruben Selles might perhaps transfer Jeriel Dorsett from left-back to central defence and play Garcia at left-back, as the 16-year-old has started several games on the left side this season.
Garcia was needed while Dorsett was out, and he has continued to play for the first team even since the defender’s return.
| Andre Garcia’s 2024/25 campaign at Reading FC | ||
|---|---|---|
| Competition | Appearances | Starts |
| League One | 11 | 6 |
| EFL Cup | 1 | 1 |
| EFL Trophy | 2 | 2 |
| (Figures correct as of November 25th, 2024) | ||
The teenager is a highly regarded player who has held his own in League One. Defensively, he’s struggled at times, but left-back isn’t his natural position, and his ability to step up is impressive.
He will only improve with more first-team experience, although it is unknown how long the youngster will remain at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.
Manchester City among teams interested in Andre Garcia
TBR Football has identified several organizations interested in 16-year-old Garcia, indicating numerous potential future destinations for him.
Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, and Tottenham Hotspur are all reportedly interested in the youngster, perhaps offering him a chance to stay in England.
Palace and City have done business with the club in recent years, with Michael Olise transferring to the former and Luca Fletcher joining the latter.
The Royals have also seen many Chelsea players transfer on loan to the SCL Stadium, indicating a link between the two clubs.
However, Enzo Maresca’s team will face a tough battle to land his signature.
Several European clubs are interested in the teenager, including Atlético Madrid, RB Leipzig, Bayern Leverkusen, and Marseille.
Atalanta, the current Europa League champions, are reportedly interested in the 16-year-old, although the outcome remains uncertain.
Reading FC anger towards Dai Yongge will increase after Andre Garcia exit links
This attention is normally welcomed because the Royals will most likely be able to lock him down to a professional contract before selling him, allowing them to get a good price for his services.
That money might have been put in the first team, allowing the Berkshire club to sign more players in their quest to return to the Championship.
Unfortunately, due to their ownership condition and anticipated future financial flow concerns, they may not be able to provide Garcia a solid professional deal, which would be a great disappointment for supporters.
The club was reportedly for sale over a year ago, thus the ownership situation should have been resolved sooner.
However, there have been a number of false dawns at the SCL Stadium since then, and current owner Dai Yongge is still in charge despite the fact that his tenure in Berkshire should have ended a long time ago.
Takeovers are never simple to complete, but the fact that it has taken this long is inexcusable, and fans will rightfully be upset with Dai as a result.
Garcia might go for a small fee in January, which would be disappointing for fans who would want the club to compensate him well.
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