Reading FC urged to avoid Amadou Mbengue sale amid Watford, Blackburn talk | OneFootball

Mbengue has been one of the Royals' standout performers in League One

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Despite a backdrop of long-term uncertainty, Reading supporters were treated to an array of strong performances on the pitch in League One in 2024/25.

After maintaining their status in the third-tier last season, the Berkshire outfit enjoyed a fine campaign this time around despite having the second-youngest squad in the division ahead of Peterborough United, largely as a result of transfer restrictions imposed as a result of Dai Yongge's well-documented spell in the boardroom at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

And, despite losing manager Ruben Selles to Hull City in December and the services of Sam Smith to Wrexham in January, Noel Hunt's youthful side put up the most admirable of play-off bids in testing circumstances, eventually falling three points short of the top six on the final day of the season.

Amadou Mbengue has been one of Reading's most consistent performers since the club's fall into the division back in 2023, and could be set for a return to the Championship this summer amid previously reported interest from the likes of Watford, Blackburn Rovers and Ligue 1 outfit, Brest.

With this in mind, as well as the feel-good factor which has now re-emerged in RG2 amid takeover developments involving former Wycombe Wanderers owner, Rob Couhig, FLW asked our resident Reading fan pundit, Johnny Hunt, whether the Senegalese defender will stay at the club beyond the conclusion of the season.

It was reported in April that the trio of aforementioned sides had been monitoring the 23-year-old and had held 'initial talks' with his representatives as Mbengue is currently out-of-contract in Berkshire at the conclusion of the season.

Such revelations also claimed that the former FC Metz man had his sights set on playing at a higher level. Whilst Hunt completely understands this point of view, he also hopes that a new lease of life at the club and potential developments involving former striker, Yakou Meite, who was spotted at the final day defeat against Barnsley, could sway the defender's thinking.

"I think every Reading fan would love Amadou Mbengue to stay," he began. "He's just a top bloke and his game's improved so much in the last couple of years.

"He's part of that group of players that we've got who are top blokes. Works hard, plays hard, does the club proud and is a nice guy off the pitch as well.

"You'd hope he'd see the bigger picture, the project," Hunt added. "He's still very young, and he could be a part of something really special at Reading over the next few years that we could build and keep building a special club, like we used to have in the old days.

"Yakou Meite was at the game last Saturday, and he's good mates (with him). Maybe if Yakou comes back to Reading it could be a little thing for Mbengue to stay knowing one of his best mates is there," our fan pundit debated.

"Hopefully he does. I can understand the interest in him from other clubs, but let's hope it's just interest and that nothing else happens."

Mbengue has made 109 appearances for Reading and has already proven that he could feature at a higher level with 26 Championship appearances to his name, but his game, as Hunt alluded to, has come on leaps and bounds since.

As well as building up a strong rapport with supporters, his boss and supporters will be hoping that he stays after his centre-back partner, the equally-impressive Tyler Bindon, departed the club last week as he joins Nottingham Forest for his first pre-season at the City Ground after he was loaned back to his previous employers in January.

With the hope that new financial backing is set to be in place, fans will be hoping that the void left by the New Zealander can be filled with quality immediately, and that Mbengue can be offered strong enough terms to see him stay at the club as they plot a return to the second-tier in the not-too-distant future.

Failing to do just that would only give further encouragement to Watford and Blackburn, although they themselves could find it hard to compete for his services against the side who are currently eighth in the top flight of French football.