Josh Laurent drops four-word reaction to big Reading FC transfer news | OneFootball

Josh Laurent has reacted to his former Stoke City teammate Jacob Brown joining his former team Reading

Reading are preparing for their fourth consecutive year in League One following relegation to the third tier back in 2023, as the Royals, under the guidance of Leam Richardson, look for a route back to the Championship and have got off to a flyer in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, Reading endured a dismal end to last campaign to wipe any outside hopes of a top six finish away, winning none of their final six league games and losing four.

As the Berkshire outfit prepare for next season under the watch of former Wigan Athletic and Rotherham United boss Leam Richardson, the Royals will be just about as keen as anyone to claw their way back up to the second tier.

Richardson will be keen to stamp his authority on the Reading squad this summer, and has already completed the addition of Kyreece Lisbie from Colchester United and Udoka Godwin-Malife from Burton Albion.

However, the Royals may well have just pulled off the biggest coup of the window with the addition of a former Premier League and Scotland international striker at the prime of his career, as one former Reading fan favourite has reacted to the news of his arrival.

Burnley midfielder Josh Laurent reacts to former club Reading signing ex-Stoke City teammate Jacob Brown

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Joining both Lisbie and Oduka-Malife at the Select Car Leasing Stadium is former Barnsley, Stoke City, and Luton Town forward Jacob Brown, who, following his contract expiry at the Hatters, joins Reading on a free transfer.

Brown, 28, came through the ranks at Barnsley before completing a move to Stoke in the summer of 2020, where he would make 141 appearances in all competitions for the club across three years prior to joining then newly-promoted Premier League side Luton in the summer of 2023.

With the Hatters, Brown consistently struggled with injuries, failing to keep fit, and, ultimately, enduring back-to-back relegations with the club to League One. He'd make 60 appearances in all competitions in three years at Kenilworth Road, and spent the final six months of his deal on loan with Portsmouth in the Championship.

Now, the eight-capped former Scotland international leaves Luton on a free transfer to link up with League One rivals Reading, as a former Royals fan favourite has reacted to his switch.

Josh Laurent made 88 appearances across all competitions during his time with Reading between 2020 and 2022, having joined on a free transfer from Shrewsbury Town, remaining as an ever-present in the middle of the park during his time at the club, but he would leave on another free transfer for Stoke in the summer of 2022.

Now, the 31-year-old has spent the last two years in Lancashire with Burnley, with whom he has endured promotion to the Premier League and relegation to the Championship most recently.

Laurent and Brown spent the 2022/23 campaign together during their time in the Potteries, briefly under Michael O'Neill and then Alex Neil, as the former Royals midfielder has told his former side to 'take care' of his former teammate.

The Englishman still has a great affinity with Reading and their supporters, even though his time at the club didn't last as long as either probably would have hoped, and has made sure to weigh in with a message for his former side following Brown's move.

Jacob Brown could be a real coup for Reading following his release from Luton Town

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Brown is now 28 and ought to be in and around the prime of his career, and having played Premier League football just over two years ago, his addition at Reading could be a real coup.

The only question mark surrounding him is his availability, as the only reason he has been unable to remain at the very highest level is almost purely down to his injury struggles.

If he can get over those issues at Reading, the Royals may well have pulled off a masterstroke with the addition of the Scot, with this deal having the potential to be one of the very best in the EFL this entire summer.

Laurent has told his former side to take care of Brown, and if they do so, Brown will likely take care of things on the pitch.