Sources: Reading tell Luke Southwood to find new club
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.
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.