Reading FC and manager Paul Ince left in limbo as contract impasse continues over forward duo

Reading FC forwards Junior Hoilett and Femi Azeez are set to become free agents on Friday as things stand.

It comes as their contract impasse with Royals continues this summer. The pair have both been offered new contracts to extend their stay with the club but are yet to commit. It means the club and manager Paul Ince are in limbo as pre-season preparations continue, with Reading working with a small squad of just 14 senior players.

No statement has been released by Royals meaning that as of Friday, July 1, Hoilett and Azeez will be free agents and not attached to the club.

Hoilett has been away with Canada following the end of the season and played in two CONCACAF Nations League matches against Curacao and Honduras.

Speaking about his future on a recent podcast, he hinted he may have played his final game for Reading, saying: "I'll be a free agent in a few months so right now my main focus is going to camp, playing minutes and showing people I'm fit.

"Of course, one day I'd love to come back home and play MLS. I've never played professional football for a club team back home and the way the MLS is going and the way Toronto FC and other Canadian teams are going, the league is only getting bigger and better so for me I'd love to play in the MLS one day."

Meanwhile, the futures of a number of U23s players also remain uncertain.

Contracts were offered to Imari Samuels, Tyrell Ashcroft, Hamid Abdel-Salam, Harvey Maudner, David Nyarko, Jahmari Clarke, Nahum Melvin-Lambert and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan but there has been no official word from the club on if they will be staying in Berkshire.

It is understood Ashcroft will be leaving the club while Clarke has been away on international duty with Jamaica U20s. Samuels,