READING manager Ruben Selles admitted that the EFL has been strict with the club over transfers due to their continued financial troubles.
Speaking on the Training Ground Guru Podcast, Selles opened up on his first six months with the club throughout a turbulent period.
With just a few days of the January transfer window left, the Royals have lost defenders Tom Holmes, Nelson Abbey and Nesta Guinness-Walker.
Holmes joined Premier League Luton Town, but has rejoined Reading on loan for the rest of the season.
Abbey joined Olympaicos, while Guinness-Walker signed for Stevenage on a loan deal.
Selles is hopeful that he won’t lose any more key players before the window shuts.
He said: “My priority is to keep them together because we’ve worked really hard when things haven’t gone our way and now we have an established group of players. The last thing we need now is to start that process again.
“We can start the process again in the pre-season next year and sell some players if we need. Our priority now is to keep them together but I don’t know if that will be possible, but I will fight for it.
“The financial side is not stable so if a proper offer comes the club is going to let them go.
When speaking about the prospect of bringing players in, Selles said: “We cannot pay for a player but can bring loans or free transfers if they fit within our limitations for salaries.
“The EFL has been very strict with us on that. They have sometimes reduced our capability to get players in terms of wages. My priority is to not lose players in this market.”
Reading are currently under a transfer embargo, which limits them to signing free agents or loans only, until at least January 2025.
