FC Porto star linked with Reading FC switch as Paul Ince looks to follow Sam Hutchinson deal

FC Porto midfielder Mamadou Loum has been linked with a move to Reading FC.

Portuguese outlet Record are reporting the 25-year-old is set to join Royals on a loan deal for the upcoming Championship season.

The agreement reportedly includes an option for Paul Ince's side to buy the Senegalese international for €5million next summer. The report claims the player is not part of his club's plans for 2022/23.

Loum is a defensive midfielder but has only made a handful of appearances for Porto. He was most recently on loan with Spanish side Alaves. He still has two years left on his contract with Porto.

Ince is still eyeing further signings this summer to bolster his squad for the new campaign. So far he has brought in Joe Lumley, Tyrese Fornah and Jeff Hendrick on loan deals, while Dean Bouzanis, Tom Ince, Shane Long and Sam Hutchinson have joined permanently.

Loum, who has been capped three times by his country, joined Porto for £6.75million from fellow Portuguese outfit Braga in 2019. Reading remain under a transfer embargo this summer, so players can only be signed on loan deals or having been free agents. The restrictions are set to be lifted next summer, though, which would allow them to trigger the purchase clause in the deal for Loum.