Four free agents still available as Reading continue search for final addition - Iqraa news

Reading boss Noel Hunt has confirmed that the club are still on the look out for a free agent signing between now and May.

The Royals, ninth in League One, are just three points outside the play-offs heading into the final 14 matches.

With one space left to fill in their EFL squad, Hunt is looking over the coming weeks.

"We are looking and are aware," he said on Thursday. "We wanted to see how this block of games went and how we fared, and then we can look at it next week."

With that in mind, take a look below at four possible players available on the market that the club can look at.

Dru Yearwood

A 25-year-old energetic midfielder, Yearwood broke through with Southend United in 2017 as the Shrimps were a solid League One club.

Sealing a move to Brentford in 2019, only five appearances followed and he opted to move on to pick up more minutes.

Calling America home for four years, Yearwood made over 100 appearances for New York Red Bulls before taking in short spells with Nashville and Huntsville.

Still young enough to fit in well with the Royals squad, Yearwood may fancy a return to the UK.

Jeff Hendrick

At the other end of the age spectrum, Hendrick has nearly 500 career appearances to his name with the likes of Derby County, Burnley and Newcastle United.

Unfancied at St James Park, the 33-year-old played 46 times for Reading in 2022/23 as the club were relegated from the Championship under Paul Ince and interim coach Hunt.

12 appearances followed last year for Sheffield Wednesday and the Republic of Ireland international has not featured in a first-team match since.

It would be a big risk, with his lack of minutes, but an experienced midfielder could certainly help take the pressure off the midfield trio of Lewis Wing, Charlie Savage and Harvey Knibbs.

Tyler Blackett

Similar to Hendrick, Blackett is a former Reading regular who has failed to find a club since last season.

The versatile 30-year-old, who can play centre-back or left-back, made over 120 appearances for the club between 2016 and 2020 but has failed to find a regular home in the next five years.

Spells with Nottingham Forest, Cincinnati and Rotherham United have seen him continue to pick up minutes, but nothing since the end of last season as the Millers dropped into League One.

With only 17-year-old Andre Garcia at left-back, an experienced professional could certainly help the teen and the club.

Brandon Williams

Like Blackett, 24-year-old Williams would provide great depth to the left-back position, probably the area which could do with strengthening the most.

A Manchester United youngster, Williams made over 50 appearances for the Red Devils and has gone on to become a regular for both Norwich City and Ipswich Town in the last two seasons.

Without a club this season, the age profile certainly provides a platform for the player and a better fit for the rest of the squad- young with lots of prove.