Reading are believed to have turned down a six-figure bid from Oxford United for Charlie Savage.
The offer, from their Thames Valley rivals, is estimated to be in the region of £500k.
Savage has appeared in all 24 of the Royals League One games this season, but this proposal appears to fall short of their valuation, according to Pete O’Rourke.
Royals Keen To Keep Midfielder
The former Manchester United man moved to Berkshire in the summer of 2023, penning a four-year deal. That means he still has 18-months left on his existing contract, indicating a much bigger fee will be required for the Royals to lose one of their star performers midway through the campaign.
A loan with Forest Green Rovers during his time at Old Trafford convinced Reading to acquire the 22-year-old, after 15 League One appearances in Nailsworth. Availability is often considered the best ability, and that saying rings true in Savage’s case. In his debut campaign at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, the Welshman made 46 appearances.
He bettered that tally last term by missing just one league match, a hammering by Bolton Wanderers. With 20 goal contributions across all competitions, Savage was a key part of the Reading side that just missed out on a League One Play-Off place.
Relative to his own standards, Savage hasn’t quite hit those same heights again this season. But, having won four of their last five matches, Reading have surged through the mid-table pack and are just four points adrift of the top six places. Keeping hold of the Leicester-born man is integral to any promotion push in the second half of the campaign.
Why Oxford?
Oxford are battling at the other end of the table in the Championship, and there remains the possibility that these two teams could switch divisions later this year. But the U’s have a new man in the dugout, and he will be keen to shape his squad in this window. Matt Bloomfield was appointed as head coach last week, with the club three points adrift from safety.
Norwich City are improving with Philippe Clement as their new gaffer, and Oxford will be hoping their new man in the dugout can have the same impact. Only crisis-hit Sheffield Wednesday are below the U’s at the moment, but there are 12 points on offer in the remainder of January.
The signing of Savage could be exactly what the second-tier strugglers need to revitalise their season. But, Oxford will need to come in with an improved offer to prize the Welshman away from down the A34.