League One outfit Reading have agreed a fee with Championship side Swansea City to kickstart their winter window.
Winning five of their last six League One outings, the Royals are on a surge towards the division’s top six spots. Now turning towards defensive reinforcements, the Berkshire club have agreed a fee for a defender experienced at the level.
According to reports from Football League World, the club are set to add Swansea’s Ricardo Santos to their ranks.
Reading Agree Deal With Swansea City
Joining Swansea City last summer, the central defender has been largely limited in terms of gametime this season.
His only appearance came from the bench away at Bristol City in November. However, with the defender set to represent his nation, Cape Verde, in the 2026 World Cup, a move promising regular minutes for the rest of the season appears to be the best for all parties involved.
Santos struggled greatly with injuries from the off this season, which has made it difficult to make any form of impression at the Liberty Stadium. However, with only one appearance this season, a move makes perfect sense.
Subject to personal terms and a medical, any move for the defender would be permanent.
This move also paves the way for Vitor Matos to bring in his own defenders this window, as the Swans have struggled in their own box this season.
Meanwhile, the Royals will receive a defender richly experienced at the top end of League One throughout his time at Bolton Wanderers.
Ricardo Santos To Reading
The 30-year-old’s move to the Championship took many by surprise, after he was part of a Bolton Wanderers defence that conceded 70 goals last season.
However, looking beyond last season, he was a greatly influential figure throughout Bolton’s rise from League Two to the top of League One.
Making over 200 appearances for the Manchester side, he incredibly unfortunate not to win promotion to the Championship with the Trotters. Narrowly missing out on automatic promotion once and failing in two consecutive play-off attempts in recent years.
Deservedly, Santos was recently regarded as one of the best defenders in the division.
Still 30 years old, he has plenty to offer in his position as Reading look to make a push for the top six spots. Likely to play alongside Paudie O’Connor, this signing presents the prospect of a formidable central defence for the Royals.
With the Berkshire club set to travel to Leyton Orient on Saturday, it will be interesting to see whether the defender will immediately feature in the match, given his pre-season injury and largely limited minutes this season.