Key update emerges on Reading FC player’s future amid previous Nottingham Forest interest

Reading midfielder Josh Laurent has admitted he is more likely to extend his stay at the Select Car Leasing Stadium beyond the summer if Paul Ince is in charge next season, according to BBC Radio Berkshire journalist Tim Dellor.

The 26-year-old’s contract in Berkshire is due to expire at the end of the campaign after signing a two-year deal on his arrival back in 2020 – and has proved to be a reasonably successful signing – winning the club’s player of the season award for the 2020/21 campaign.

He has endured sticky patches of form this season with the Royals languishing dangerously above the relegation zone for much of 2021/22 – but has still popped up with crucial goals recently with his winner against Blackburn Rovers before clinching a crucial equaliser against fellow strugglers Barnsley earlier this month.

He certainly hasn’t been short of interest in the past 12 months, with Scottish Premiership champions Rangers and Premier League outfit Brighton both thought to have been interested in a move for the midfielder.

Nottingham Forest joined this race later in the year and were even reported to have submitted a bid in an attempt to lure him to the City Ground, though it was an approach that was unsuccessful with the Berkshire outfit already lacking squad depth at that point without making further sales.

The Royals are set to operate within a strict EFL business plan as part of the sanction they received from the governing body last November and this could make the task of holding on to him quite challenging.

However, Laurent has said to journalist Dellor that he’s enjoying his football under Ince and is more likely to sign fresh terms at the Select Car Leasing Stadium if the latter is in charge for the 2022/23 season.