Reading FC could benefit from Chelsea relationship to sign Harvey Vale

Reading FC could benefit from Chelsea relationship to sign Harvey Vale

In January, Reading will most likely prioritise player retention over adding some new first-team players.

However, they are still having cash flow issues, and because a takeover doesn’t appear to be imminent, they might

have to sell players to make ends meet for the rest of the 2024–2025 season.

The Berkshire team would suffer a severe blow since, in spite of their off-field problems, they have had a respectable

start to the season and have managed to advance to the play-offs.

But the departure of Ruben Selles and some January window sales could halt their momentum.

Fears of a fire sale next month are legitimate and understandable, considering a number of first-teamers were sold

during the previous January window, including Nelson Abbey, Tom Holmes, Tom McIntyre, and Caylan Vickers.

More sales in January could put them in a severely weakened position, so if a takeover is somehow completed in time

for the January window, the Royals’ full focus should be on improving a number of areas.

The goalkeeping department is well-covered but they could benefit from adding another central defender to their

squad, improving their full-back area and making moves to strengthen their wing and striker area.

Reading FC could benefit from Chelsea relationship to sign Harvey Vale

Over the course of the last fifteen years or more, the Royals and the Blues have had a relationship at various times.

During the 2014–15 season, Nathan Ake and Nathaniel Chalobah arrived on loan, while Ryan Bertrand and Shaun

Cummings both came from the Premier League’s biggest clubs.

In recent years, Ben Elliott made a permanent move to the Select Car Leasing Stadium during the 2023 summer

window, while Cesare Casadei signed on loan for the second part of the 2022–2023 season and occasionally excelled.

It would be great to capitalise on that relationship with the top team by landing Vale, but it’s unclear if they will be

able to bring in any players in January.

Harvey Vale could be a valuable signing for Reading FC

Vale may be able to start right away at the SCL Stadium because he has League One experience from his spell at

Bristol Rovers.

It might be challenging for the Royals to make a permanent move because other teams might be interested in him in

January, but his contract ends in 2025, which might lead to a free transfer with a sizable sell-on clause.

Noel Hunt’s team should be in the running for Elliott if they have the chance to close some winter transactions, as

the Royals negotiated a comparable agreement for him while keeping their connection with the Blues in mind.

And if a sale or two is made, that could make room for Vale to come in, even if they can’t bring him in at the start of

January. A loan deal could also be a possibility if the Blues decide to extend his contract, so it will be interesting to

see what happens in January.

Vale would be an excellent permanent addition in Berkshire though, considering he’s only 21, already has some

senior experience under his belt, may not take too long to settle in Berkshire and wouldn’t be short of motivation to do well.

He’s also an extremely versatile player and that’s important for a team that lacks depth in a number of areas.

The 21-year-old can operate centrally but he is also a useful player to have at left-back and in the wing area. And the

latter two positions both need to be looked at.

Although Andre Garcia is still a young player and has been linked to a move away from Berkshire, Jeriel Dorsett and

Garcia can both play left-back. Bringing in a left-back should be their goal because Dorsett isn’t a natural full-back either.

It is also uncertain if Chem Campbell will stay with the Royals for the rest of the season as a winger. Without him,

the Berkshire team might not have many choices available, since Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan is now sidelined due to a

serious injury.

Considering everything, Vale might be a very wise addition and, with the correct organisation, a mutually beneficial

agreement.

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