According to the The Reading Chronicle, Championship side Reading are interested in signing Norwich City striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel. This comes after Pavel Pogrebnyak left the club last week; Reading are hoping to replace him before the deadline of 6pm, Tuesday evening.
The former Dutch international has previously been linked with moves back to Sporting Lisbon, where Norwich City bought him in the first place, however deals allegedly broke down over wage demands.
Reading were showing interest in Robert Beric of Rapid Wien but he slipped through their fingers, reportedly signing for St Etienne earlier today. It was thought that they had bids of around £3.5 million rejected, so perhaps they’ll be willing to spend similar money on Norwich’s failed forward.
For the Canaries, van Wolfswinkel’s future hangs in the balance. He arrived in the summer of 2013/14, promising so much. The big bad Wolf – that’s the angle the Norwich City marketing department took. The excitement would all come crashing down when his opening day goal would prove to be his only one all season. ‘The biggest flop in Norwich City transfer history’ – an easy title to scapegoat someone with given the relatively large figure of £8.5 million.
He then spent a season on loan at St Etienne last campaign where he managed 5 goals in 24 appearances. The French club chose not to pursue the striker and dismissed the option to buy him at the end of his loan deal.
As of July 2015, van Wolfswinkel was a Norwich City player again. Most Norwich fans were optimistically open to his return, adopting the narrative that ‘if anyone can reinvent him, it’s Alex Neil’. Lewis Grabban’s awol mystery at Rotherham United last week worked in the Dutchman’s favour; he was given a chance (or at least Alex Neil had literally no other option) and van Wolfswinkel scored, ending a two-year goal drought.
His position in the pecking order remains relatively low. It would come as no surprise if he were leave before tomorrow’s deadline.
Could Reading be his destination?
