Sources: Reading tell Luke Southwood to find new club

Founder & Managing Director AUTHORITY Former chief correspondent at Evening Standard, Goal and Press Association with nearly three decades in national, regional and digital news and sports journalism. Wayne directs the network’s news strategy and high-level operations. FOCUS Editorial direction for the 11-site network and newsroom management. THE BRIEF Wayne oversees the network’s editorial standards across the network. He provides the final sign-off on all headline scoops, ensuring content across all platforms meets the standards required for a high-velocity newsroom.

Published on:

31 May 2022, 4:55 am

Reading have informed goalkeeper Luke Southwood he is free to find a new club, Football Insider understands.

Southwood, 24, made 26 appearances for the Royals in 2021-22 but ended up losing his place to Arsenal loanee Karl Hein and then Orjan Nyland.

A Reading source has told Football Insider that Southwood has been told he can move on for the right price this summer even though he is the only senior keeper left on the club’s books following the departures of Nyland and James Holden.

✒ CONFIRMED 📝

We are pleased to announce that Paul Ince has been appointed as first team manager 🤝💙

Alex Rae has also accepted the opportunity to be Assistant Manager with the Royals as both interim positions now become permanent ahead of the 2022-23 campaign 👏
— Reading FC (@ReadingFC) May 16, 2022

News of the availability of Southwood, who is currently away on international duty with Northern Ireland, is expected to spark interest from a host of clubs.

He conceded 48 goals across his 25 Championship starts for struggling Reading this term - keeping only three clean sheets.

The shot-stopper was the only Reading player to be named in all 46 matchday squads this term, despite the Royals using four different goalkeepers across the season.

Southwood, who is out of contract next summer (2023) made his first-team breakthrough in the League Cup last season.

However, he had to wait until this campaign to get a prolonged chance in the second tier.

The Oxford-born ace also has experience of loan spells at a number of lower-league clubs, including Hamilton Academicals, Eastleigh, and Bath City.

Southwood earned his first Northern Ireland call-up in November 2021 but had to wait until March of this year to make his debut.

Reading finished 21st in the second tier - narrowly avoiding relegation to League One.

Manager Paul Ince is expected to ring the changes this summer as he looks to transform the Berkshire side.

In other news, Stoke City and Reading plotting to sign ex-Wolves star.

Reading