With the new League One campaign to kick off on Saturday, here are our predictions for the season ahead for Reading.
The Royals had an excellent season in 2024/25 with a feel good spirit around the team despite all the drama with the off-field situation and managed to finish just one place outside the play-off positions.
Now under new ownership, Reading fans can breathe easy knowing that the future of their club is in much safer hands.
However, there have been plenty of concerns from fans around the current state of the playing squad.
After seeing contract extensions for midfield maestro Lewis Wing and the equally important Joel Pereira, the summer got off to a superb start in RG2.
However, things have been underwhelming since then with a particular lack of transfer activity in the attack.
Amadou Mbengue, Michael Craig, Jayden Wareham all departed the club despite being offered contract extensions, while Harvey Knibbs is set to move to Championship side Charlton Athletic.
While the losses of Mbengue and Tyler Bindon have been fixed with the loan addition of Finley Burns from Manchester City and the shrewd signing of former Lincoln City captain Paudie O’Connor on a free transfer, it’s the attack where most concerns lie.
The side has lost plenty of goals over the past year, most notably with the departures of Sam Smith and Knibbs.
Those goals need replacing if the team have any hope of competing among the top six.
You can make a strong case that Reading have one of the best midfields in the division with the majestic qualities of Wing, tenacity and quality of Charlie Savage and the promising potential of Ben Elliott.
You can also make a strong argument that Reading have one of the best goalkeepers in the league in Joel Pereira.
However, the stark lack of attention to the forwards department is likely to be what will hold Reading back this season unless addressed quickly.
There’s still time to fix these issues with the transfer window open for a little under a month, but options are dwindling by the day.
With all that in mind, here are Reading Today’s predictions for the season.
League position: 12th
I’m more than willing to revise this prediction IF the attack is bolstered in the final few weeks of the window.
If a striker and two wingers of decent quality are added, I think Reading can make a play-off push again.
However, as it stands, I can just see a lack of goals being a huge issue.
There’s plenty of talented players in midfield, the defence will hopefully be able to deal with the loss of Mbengue and Bindon with the experienced O’Connor and the promising Burns in the backline.
However, there just simply isn’t the quality or depth in attack to expect a play-off push currently.
20-year-old loanee O’Mahony currently has most of the goalscoring burden placed on his shoulders which is a lot to deal with at a young age for a player with a lack of senior football experience.
It’s also time to see Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan kick on and increase his goal output having only netted four league goals in 33 games last year.
Player of the season: Charlie Savage
He came on leaps and bounds in his second season in Berkshire having shown enough promise in his first campaign at the club.
He’s a vital cog in the midfield, providing energy and tenacity which is always vital with the often frantic nature of League One football.
He also has enough quality to stand out from other midfielders in the division with the ability to play a killer pass in the final third or strike from distance.
Young player of the season: Andre Garcia
Everyone knows the potential that he possesses having been given an opportunity at senior football at just 16.
With a year of experience already under his belt, I’m excited to see what he could produce this season.
With a lack of wingers at the club he could be asked to play a more advanced role this season which I actually think could suit him.
Top goalscorer: Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan
A tough one to predict given the lack of firepower in attack that I’ve mentioned throughout.
However, I’m banking on Ehibhatiomhan to knuckle down having signed a new two-year deal and show what he’s truly made of.
Hunt may favour playing him as a central striker in some matches rather than always playing him on the left-wing which should allow him more time in and around the box.
Signing of the season: Finley Burns
From the little we’ve seen in pre-season, Burns looks like a smart signing on a one-year loan.
The 6ft5 defender has had a good grounding at Manchester CIty’s academy and now looks ready to push on to stand up to the test of senior football at 22.
Big shoes to fill given the excellent partnership of Mbengue and Bindon from the last two seasons, but a real opportunity for him to show his quality.
