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Thirty-seven-year-old ex-England star Teddy Sheringham has attracted a lot of suitors since Tottenham decided they were not going to renew his contract, including Reading. Here at Reading Mad we thought we would find out a bit more about him.
So who's after him?
Sheringham is a massive name so quite understandably there are a whole host of clubs chasing him. Premiership side Charlton are just the latest club to confirm an interest in the ex-Man Utd player. Newly promoted Wolves are believed to be keen, as are one of Reading's arch-rivals, Millwall. The talented star has also been inundated with offers from abroad. Clubs from Portugal, Spain, Japan, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have all been linked with moves for Sheringham.
However, South-Coast side Portsmouth are believed to be the favourites to sign him having offered a role as player-coach. The Royals are also believed to be in contention for his signature. Indeed, rumours suggest that the centre-forward believes that only two clubs are really serious about signing him: Portsmouth and Reading.
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As he is out of contract he will be available on a free transfer. However, Sheringham's transfer wouldn't be entirely 'free'. The London-born player is a massive name in the game and would demand a massive pay-packet to match. Reading Mad reckon the minimum the Royals could sign him on is £15,000 per week. A lot of money.
Is he worth it?
That is the £15,000 per week question. Two years ago there would have been no doubt about it - you were guaranteed get your money's worth. However, Sheringham is now 37, and towards the end of last season began to look a shadow of the player he had been. Signing the Englishman would be a outrageously risky move, he could quite conceivably be a massive flop.
If he was to come to Reading where would he play?
Sheri would be the perfect man to partner Nicky Forster. Unlike Forster, he is most certainly not blessed with pace but he is a forward who likes to come deep and play as a target man. The Reading team would need only play the ball into Teddy who could weave a bit of his magic and create a goalscoring chance for Fozzy.
So what's he done in his career thus far?
Sheringham has most definitley improved as he has got older. Having never been blessed with pace the 6ft 1in forward has been able to continue to improve due to his very able footballing brain.
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Nottingham Forest eventually payed £2m to take Teddy off the Millwall pay-roll. A short stop at the City Ground saw him score 23 goals in just 62 appearances. Next stop, White Hart Lane, some of the best years of Sheringham's career were played out in front of the North London faithful. In 1992-93 he scored 29 times to win the Premiership's Golden Boot Award. England honours were just around the corner, and Teddy found himself wearing the Three Lions during Euro 96. During the tournament the now veteran centre-forward formed a deadly partnership with Alan Shearer which propelled England to the semi-finals.
After netting his ninety-ninth goal for Spurs at the end of the 1996-97 season Sheri duly transferred himself to Manchester United in a £3.5 million deal. Eric Cantona's replacement endured a difficult first year at Old Trafford in which the Red Devil's won no trophies. However, Sheringham's fortunes were transformed in his second year at Old Trafford, the number ten played a starring role as Manchester United won an inconceivable treble.
After four great years with the Red Devils he returned to Tottenham on a free transfer in 2001 where he has played his football ever since.
What else is there to know about Sheringham?
He will forever be remembered by Manchester United fans for his contribution to their treble winning season. Scorer of the first goal as United beat Newcastle 2-0 in the FA Cup Final, he repeated the trick four days later, coming off the bench to score a stoppage time equaliser against Bayern Munich in the Champions League Final. It got better two minutes later when the Londoner set Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up to seal a dramatic victory.
So will he sign for Reading?
If there is truth behind the speculation that suggests Sheringham believes only Harry Redknapp and Alan Pardew are serious about his signature then there is a more than minute chance the 37-year-old will be playing for Reading next season. Pardew has publicly admitted his interest in the player but appreciates the Royals aren't favourites for his signature.
If Sheringham really wants to play for Reading then John Madejski will surely stump up the wages. Reading Mad believe that the European Cup winner could be playing for Reading next season.