3 reasons why Reading FC may be wise to cash in on 24 y/o after exit report

Championship side Reading have told Luke Southwood to find a new club ahead of the summer window, according to a report from Football Insider.

The 24-year-old, who graduated through the Royals’ academy, has had to bide his time at the Select Car Leasing Stadium before finally getting an extended first-team opportunity to shine between the sticks.

Initially starting the 2021/22 campaign behind Rafael Cabral in the pecking order, an injury to the Brazilian in September allowed the academy graduate to come in and proved to be impressive at first.

However, a string of errors from December persuaded former boss Veljko Paunovic to move for Arsenal shot-stopper Karl Hein during the winter window and though the Estonian only played a few games before picking up a season-ending injury, Orjan Nyland arrived in March as the 20-year-old’s replacement.

That limited Southwood’s involvement during the second half of the season, though Nyland’s departure at the end of the campaign potentially provided the Northern Ireland international that he would return between the sticks from next season.

It now looks as though officials in Berkshire want to sever ties with the 24-year-old – and we discuss three reasons why they may be wise to cash in on the shot-stopper in the summer.

His contract expires in 2023

Although Southwood is one of few Reading players whose contract doesn’t expire this summer, his deal comes to an end in 2023 and they face the prospect of losing the goalkeeper for free next summer because of that.

Two scenarios could happen for that to occur. The first scenario is a more positive one for the 24-year-old, with Southwood possibly impressing next season and earning himself a move to a bigger club with the Royals unlikely to