Reading FC and Port Vale eyeing West Brom player - he has been prolific before in League One | OneFootball

Devante Cole scored 18 last time out in League One and could be set to return to the third tier this season

Reading FC have shown interest in signing 30-year-old forward Devante Cole, but face competition from newly-promoted League One side Port Vale for his signature.

RDG Today has reported that Cole has caught the eye of the Royals, who require attacking reinforcements ahead of the new League One campaign, which starts this weekend.

It hasn't worked out for the 30-year-old at The Hawthorns so far, failing to start a Championship game last season. The only game he did start came in their 2-1 EFL Cup defeat to League Two side, Fleetwood Town.

However, Cole has excelled recently in League One, and his 18-goal campaign in 2023/24 prompted the step-up to the second tier. Now, he has a chance once again to set League One alight.

Reading and Port Vale show interest in Devante Cole

According to RDG Today, Reading are among the clubs competing to sign Cole from West Brom this summer.

Cole had signed a two-year deal at The Hawthorns last summer following his exit from Barnsley, and looks to be close to yet another move a year later, after failing to score in 14 substitute appearances in the Championship last season. This report states he is a free agent, but that's not confirmed to be the case at the time of writing.

Reading have been active in replacing their outgoings so far this transfer window, with the likes of Paudie O'Connor in to replace Amadou Mbengue, and Liam Fraser arriving following Michael Craig's departure, but Noel Hunt's side still lack striker depth.

Mark O'Mahony, their loanee from Brighton, is currently their only recognised 'number nine,' and whilst goals in the Reading side can come from anywhere, bringing in a focal point up top such as Cole would be a coup, especially if the Royals do end up losing Harvey Knibbs to Charlton, as reported.

Cole's most recent seasons in League One have seen him score 15 and 18, respectively, missing just one game across both of those terms and helping his Barnsley side reach the play-offs in each.

Whilst he wasn't able to impress in the Championship last season, his past ventures in the third tier will ring in the minds of plenty of third-tier supporters, and he has all the ability to continue that at The Select Car Leasing Stadium this season.

It's refreshing to see Reading once again properly active in the transfer market after several years of uncertainty.

And whilst they're still mainly relying on bringing players in who are out of contract, the status of the club is currently in a healthier position than it was this time last season, and thus they can convince players to join with a clear on-field focus now.

Therefore, with Reading once again preparing for a season challenging near the play-offs, you'd think that they'd hold the cards over a potential deal, if it is indeed newly promoted Port Vale who are their main challengers.

At 30, Cole will likely want to compete near the top of the division once more, with the view of having once more crack at the Championship after a couple of poor seasons in the second tier. He's likely to achieve this in Berkshire, rather than Burslem.

And, after failing to secure a proper striker replacement last January when Sam Smith departed for Wrexham, a potential arrival of Cole would be a big boost to their promotion credentials in 2025/26.