Reading missed out by a narrow margin on their chance to make a comeback into the top flight in the last term, when they lost the final of the Championship on penalties against a resurgent Huddersfield side, handing them a ticket to the top tier for this season.
The Royals, however, are not looking to give up on their expectations to make it into the Premier League once again in the next term and are willing to forge a side capable of making them the potential winners of the Championship in the current season. Their new manager, the Dutch legend Jaap Stam, who used to play for Manchester United, is looking forward to bring in some new players into the team to revamp it for the new season.
One name that is right on the top of the target list for the Championship playoff runner-ups from the last term is that of Leandro Bacuna, who is currently playing for fellow Championship side Aston Villa. The player is one of the most highly regarded attacking midfielders in the second tier and might be a shrewd addition for the Royals in their line-up for the new term, which is already underway.
The 25-year old has been widely regarded as one of the best players to feature in the Championship over the last few years in a role on the right side of the midfield, making darting runs into the opposition defence and laying off the ball for his teammates to help them score goals to keep his team in the advantage. He is also known for his ability to show good physical presence on the pitch along with an array of wily prowess to bamboozle the opposition defence and score against them.
The Curacao international has played 131 matches so far for his current club Aston Villa since arriving at the Villa Park in 2013. He has been an integral part of the Villa side in the last few seasons, which, however, has changed now with a number of clubs showing interest in him and the 25-year-old also looking to leave the club in the summer transfer window.
The Royals, meanwhile, are making good use of the ongoing transfer market and have already got themselves four new players in the form Modou Barrow, Vito Mannone, Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Pelle Clement and are eyeing some more players including Bacuna to be brought into the side to strengthen it for this season. They are hopeful that the new signings will be good enough to make them come out on the top of the Championship this term.
