Sources: Reading set to lose 25-year-old international for free
Reading goalkeeper Luke Southwood is set to become a free agent in the summer, sources have told Football Insider.
The 25-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the current season and the Championship club have decided against triggering an extension clause in his contract.
Southwood is currently on loan at League One side Cheltenham and he has impressed during his temporary stint with the Robins.
He has played in all 38 league fixtures since arriving on loan and kept 14 clean sheets this season despite Cheltenham sitting down in 17th in the table.
News of Southwood’s availability on a free transfer has alerted a number of clubs who are looking to bolster their goalkeeping ranks in the summer.
Southwood failed to cement a spot in the Reading senior team during his eight years at the club.
He grew up in the club’s academy and graduated to the first team in 2015. However, after failing to tie down a starting spot, Reading shipped Southwood on loan to Bath City, Eastleigh, Hamilton Academical and then Cheltenham.
Throughout his time at Reading, Southwood made a total of 30 appearances across all competitions, keeping three clean sheets.
Southwood has also gathered experience on the international stage – after winning the Under-20s World Cup with England in 2017, he later pledged his allegiance to Northern Ireland.
He was called up to the senior team in 2021 and made his international debut in March 2022.
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