Reading should target Cardiff City legend – He could be a gem for League One | OneFootball

Reading should make a move to sign Cardiff City legend Joe Ralls on a free transfer.

Perhaps the busiest ever summer transfer window is now over, but transfers can still happen with plenty of EFL clubs likely scouring the free agent market, and Reading should be one of those, too.

The Royals have finally experienced a takeover of the club and the departure of Dai Yongge, with Rob Couhig now in Berkshire, and optimism naturally has followed, albeit it should be tempered somewhat.

They missed out on the top six and the play-off places on the final day of last season and have since lost several key players, such as Tyler Bindon, Amadou Mbengue and Harvey Knibbs, a few months after the sale of Sam Smith to Wrexham.

Reading’s focus this summer has seemingly been on adding much-needed experience to compliment their impressive array of young stars, and Noel Hunt has been able to bring in the likes of Derrick Williams, Matt Ritchie and Jack Marriott.

One position that perhaps requires depth and even further experience is in central midfield, and a man they should be casting their eye over is Cardiff City legend Joe Ralls.

Reading should move for Cardiff City legend Joe Ralls

Following their relegation to League One, Joe Ralls departed Cardiff at the end of his contract, having made over 400 appearances for the Bluebirds in a 14-year stint in the Welsh capital.

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The decision was made by new head coach Brian Barry-Murphy, who succeeded Omer Riza at the helm back in the summer and, having plied his trade coaching Manchester City's Elite Development Squad (EDS), has opted to favour young talent over experienced operators such as Ralls.

The industrious midfielder was a brilliant servant for Cardiff and helped them gain two promotions to the Premier League, starring in the 2017/18 triumph in particular by offering a real goalscoring presence from the middle of the park, but his level clearly dipped and injuries also began to play an issue.

He made just 21 appearances last season as Cardiff succumbed to their fate, and whilst his individual performance level has definitely declined, he remains a player with immense experience at a higher level than League One.

Known for his tenacity and aggression in the middle of the park, Ralls also provides leadership qualities that would help assist Lewis Wing in the middle of Reading’s side, having skippered Cardiff for a number of years following ex-Royals defender Sean Morrison's exit.

He was training with local club Aldershot Town during this summer, with a desire to play closer to home, but no deal came to fruition and it is still fairly clear that he should still be playing at a higher level than the National League, and so Reading could pounce.

The geography, of course, could work to Reading's favour, and you would imagine that Ralls will have no shortage of suitors from the third-tier and even in the Championship, with many Bluebirds supporters surprised to see that the midfielder remains unattached months on from his departure.

Joe Ralls would suit the Reading style

Playing in a 4-3-3 under Noel Hunt, too, Ralls has played his best football in that system under the management of Neil Warnock in particular, and he would provide excellent balance with his profile and pedigree, as well as his excellent left foot.

Reading have a fair few options in the middle of the park, such as Wing, as well as Ben Elliott, new signing Liam Fraser and Charlie Savage, as well as more advanced players such as Mamadi Camara.

There is, though, a lack of depth in terms of the profile of player such as Ralls, more of a box-to-box player that can provide balance in terms of his versatility with an ability to help Reading play as a wing-back or even out-wide on occasion.

Reading had a plan this summer and they have realised that with some solid signings, but such was the state of their off-field situation in recent times, their squad still requires further experience, and there is perhaps no man better in terms of playing consistently at Championship in the last decade and a half than Ralls.

There will be a concern that their midfield, with Wing in central midfield and Savage alongside him, that the Royals could be a little lightweight moving forward, and someone of the profile of Ralls could definitely rectify that.