Having started the season as the underdogs, Reading have been a treat to watch under their new gaffer in the shape of Jaap Stam. The 44-year-old has turned the club’s fortunes and he was pretty busy in the recent January transfer window. As many as five signings were made by the gaffer in the mid-season transfer window and here is how effective their news signings might turn out to be.
Adrian Popa (5.5/10)
Signing a player who is an unknown face in English football is nothing short of risky. Adrian Popa isn’t the most spectacular of signings made by the Royals, having been signed from Steaua Bucharest on a three-and-a-half-year deal. Apart from his raw pace and versatility of being effective on the wings as well as up front, he barely has anything of high intrinsic value on his tray and lacks heavily in boasting of the quality of dribbling the ball or making crosses.
Reece Oxford (6/10)
West Ham United’s promising starlet has joined the Madejski Stadium on loan for the rest of the season. Oxford has been one of the shining youngsters to have come up in the Premier League but then, he has had only one appearance for the Hammers this term and with the plethora of stars in Slaven Bilic’s backline, a loan move was always on the cards. Nonetheless, Reading have got a much-needed body in the defensive setup which could come handy for the upcoming fixtures.
Tiago Ilori (5/10)
Another mediocre signing with an aim to bolster the defence. Ilori had been seen as a future star a couple of seasons ago, but constant injuries hadn’t helped him in cementing his place at Liverpool. Of course, he has the skill, quality, technical soundness and physicality, but in simple words, he failed to deliver. Can a move to a lesser known side like Reading help the club and the player? Only time can tell.
Jordon Mutch (7/10)
Mutch, despite his notable reputation, was reduced to the stature of a complete outcast at the Selhurst Park, having bagged merely 49 minutes in the Premier League this term for Crystal Palace. A late loan move was forked out eventually, and undoubtedly, this is a shrewd deal, to say the least.
The 25-year-old is a central midfielder who can ply his trade behind the striker in the no. 10 slot as well, has plenty of experience, infuses a strong physical presence in the middle and never refrains from racking up goals and assists: thus implying that he will have a major role to play as Stam’s side look to push for the automatic qualification spots.
Lewis Grabban (6.5/10)
Better late than never, the promotion hopefuls will place their hope on Grabban who was their eleventh-hour signing. The 29-year-old versatile attacker had been undervalued at Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth and failed to make any substantial impact ever since his return to the south coast. However, Grabban does boast of having a phenomenon goal-scoring tally in the Championship from his past endeavours and this is exactly why he has been brought on loan for the rest of the season.
