Alan Pardew has been handed a 'sizeable' transfer budget which he will attempt to invest wisely in players that can get the Royals automatic promotion to the Premiership next season. But who will Pardew invest the contents of his piggy bank in?
Today we look at 33-year-old Manchester City striker Shaun Goater who looks all set to leave Maine Road this summer - and not for the City of Manchester Stadium.
So who's after him?
Sheffield United, defeated in the Play-Off Final are favourites to sign Goater. However, Mick McCarthy of Sunderland is also interested. The former Ireland boss is looking to add some firepower to his squad as he bids to get the Black Cats back into the Premiership at the first attempt. Norwich City and Reading have also been linked with moves for the Bermudian.
How much would he cost?
City boss Kevin Keegan is said to be holding out for £1m as he is looking to raise some funds to rebuild the Manchester City squad this summer. With just a year left to run on his contract City are certainly not looking to do the charitable thing and let him go for free.
Is he worth it?
At £1 million definitely not. In the current depressed transfer market it is unlikely that there is anyone who is willing to pay a seven-figure sum for a 33-year-old, even if he has scored 233 career goals.
If he was to come to Reading where would he play?
A powerful yet athletic centre-forward he would be the perfect man to partner Nicky Forster, who spent much of last season on his own up front. If Goater was to arrive expect the Royals to play a 4-4-2 formation next season.
So what's he done in his career thus far?
Goater was brought to England in 1989 by Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. However, the Scot didn't deem the Bermudian good enough to make the grade at Old Trafford and he was allowed to join Rotherham United on a free transfer. Two hundred and sixty-one appearances and eighty-seven goals later Bristol City signed 'the Goat' for a bargain £175,000.
In 1998 Goater finally signed for Manchester City and has played his football with the Maine Road side ever since. Now etched in Maine Road folklore the 81kg star endured a rollercoaster few years with City playing in Division Two, Division One and more recently the Premiership.
Why's he so highly thought of amongst Manchester City fans?
The Bermudan scored twice against arch-rivals Manchester United as City defeated their more successful counterparts 3-1 last November. In the return game at Old Trafford, Manchester United looked to be heading for a comfortable win until substitute Goater stole City a point with a dramatic equaliser. Anyone in the sky-blue shirts of Man City that scores against Manchester United is a legend in the eyes of their supporters.
What else is there to know about Goater?
Shaun Goater was last weekend awarded an MBE for services to football and the youth of Bermuda. Those services include an annual soccer school aimed at improving conditions in his home country. This year over a thousand young Bermudan kids are expected to take part. In his homeland Goater enjoys the same kind of celebrity status as David Beckham does in the UK.
So will he sign for Reading?
Alan Pardew has publicly denied that he is interested in Goater but then nowadays a denial seems to be standard procedure in all football transfers. However, a deal will not happen unless Manchester City are prepared to dramatically lower their asking price. Reading Mad do not believe that anyone in a Royals shirt will be ‘feeding the Goat’ next season.