1871Royals Transfer Round-Up

TRANSFER GOSSIP

Steven Sidwell continues to be linked with a move away from the Madejski Stadium, although it now looks like any move from Everton is dead. This comes after comments made my Toffees manager David Moyes who stated he was unwilling to pay the £4 million price tag put on Championship players indicating that Moyes has made enquiries about Reading's creative midfielder.

Although according to newspaper reports Sunderland are now chasing the player with Mick McCarthy ready to test Steve Coppell's and Nicky Hammond's resolve with a £2.5 million bid.

Reading supporters are still waiting for the first new acquisition this summer. Heavily linked with a move to Reading has been Watford's top goalscorer Heidar Helguson who recently rejected a contract extension at Vicarage Road. Helguson will be out of contract next summer and as a result Watford have been forced to cut their asking price to a reported £500,000. Sheffield United are also reportedly interested with Neil Warnock again looking to add to his thousands of already contracted strikers at Bramall lane. Watford shelled out £1.5 million for Helguson back in January 2000 Norwegian outfit Lillestrom.

Rohan Ricketts who is set to be released by Tottenham Hotspurs when his contract runs out in June has agreed a deal to join fellow Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rickets who spent a loan spell at Wolves scored the winner in Wolves 2:1 victory against Reading at the end of the April. Reading had been linked with a move for the player but Ricketts has opted for a move to Molineux and join up again with Glenn Hoddle. The pair were together at Tottenham when Hoddle was manager. For the full story on Ricketts move, Click Here

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In other news, the Football League have released the attendance figures from the 2004/05 season. The statistics show the highest attendances in the Football League for 45 years with attendances in the Championship now at an average of 17,410 that's an increase of 9.6% on last season average of 15,890. A total of 9,610,170 watched a Championship fixture this season and these will be extremely pleasing for Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney after the rebranding process of the league last summer from 'Division 1' to the 'Championship.'

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