U-turn to solve Reading FC would be no shock despite Championship links: View | OneFootball

Thankfully for them, they were able to trigger one-year extensions to keep a number of first-teamers at the club, including Femi Azeez and Jeriel Dorsett.

As well as this, they have academy players who could potentially step up and make an impact at senior level during the 2024/25 campaign and beyond.

Mamadi Camara should be with the first team now and it would be interesting to see how the likes of Adrian Akande, John Clarke and Charlie Wellens step up too, if they stay and are given a chance to shine by Ruben Selles.

Even with this in mind, the Royals will need to invest in their squad by bringing in some high-quality additions if they are to give themselves a real opportunity of finishing higher than they did at the end of the 2023/24 season.

The goalkeeping department has a lot of depth, so that's a position that may not be at the top of Berkshire side's priority list to address in the coming months, even though an addition would be ideal.

Their central defence and central midfield require more depth, even though they already have some excellent options.

But moving into the attacking areas, they are starved of options, with Sam Smith the club's only proper striker option with Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan playing out on the wing during the final months of the season.

Even with Ehibhatiomhan moving out wide, the wing department needs to be filled with new signings.

Reading FC's problems at left-back

Youngster Clarke and fellow defender John Ryan can both play at left-back, even with the former playing on the wing in recent times.

Ryan has impressed in the academy and Clarke has already played in the senior team before, but some senior options are desperately needed in this department.

Dorsett has had his contract extended by a year and he can do a job on the left-hand side, but it's clear that he's a more natural centre-back option.

And with Matty Carson, Nesta Guinness-Walker and Clinton Mola all being released this summer, it's clear that the left-hand side needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency if/when a sale materialises.

It wouldn't be a shock to see Clinton Mola secure Reading FC return

According to Reading Chronicle journalist James Earnshaw, Mola was offered a new contract to stay put at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, but he seemingly rejected this offer and has decided to try and secure a move away from Berkshire.

He is reportedly attracting interest from Championship clubs - and that claim came as a surprise to quite a few Royals fans.

Considering how poor he was during the early stages of the season, a lot of supporters believe that he has been the Berkshire side's most improved player during the 2023/24 campaign.

And it would be difficult to argue with that, with the full-back performing very well during the final months of the season.

Even though he made a mistake that could have led to a goal for Cambridge United back in March, his attacking display against Garry Monk's men was superb and that match summed up what he has been like in recent times.

He can be suspect defensively, but he also drives forward well at times and can be effective when out wide and moving into the middle.

Causing defences problems with his movement, he richly deserved to start on the final day against Blackpool.

However, there's work for Mola to do if he wants to make the step up to the second tier, with his defensive skills needing to be developed.

He's more solid now than he was during the early stages of his time at the SCL Stadium, but he isn't a second-tier player yet and could benefit from spending another year with the Royals.

Mola is clearly ambitious, but he may not be able to find himself a new club in the coming weeks and that could persuade him to make a U-turn and sign a new deal with the Berkshire club.

It wouldn't be a massive surprise if that happens and it could be a good outcome for all parties, with Mola already knowing the club well and Selles needing a left-back or two before the new season.