Reading boss Brian McDermott has identified some of his January targets already

Brian McDermott: Reading boss plans to be active in January window

Reading boss Brian McDermott has said he will try to add some experience to his squad during the January transfer window.

McDermott admits he may face a difficult task in persuading players to come to the Madejski and get involved in a relegation scrap.

But with the Royals firmly rooted at the foot of the Premier League, the manager knows he must invest some of the funds promised by Reading's Russian owner Anton Zingarevich.

"January is a very difficult window, especially if you are struggling and are where we are in the league," said McDermott.

"I can't see this club ever spending a fortune in January, I just don't think it is going to happen. Having said that we have to try and find some experience.

"I can't see this club ever spending a fortune in January, I just don't think it is going to happen. Having said that we have to try and find some experience."
Brian McDermott

"I had a discussion (with Zingarevich), we had a four hour meeting the other day and talked about players coming through the door.

"I think that if we can, they are the kind of players we should be going for. They need to know the level and have played there and been there, seen it and done it, whether we can do that or not time will tell and we will see."

Reading were thrashed 5-2 at home by Arsenal on Monday night, but McDermott will have been boosted by the goalscoring return of Mali winger Jimmy Kebe.

Kebe, however, is in no doubt the Royals will need to spend big in the January sales if they are to stand any chance of avoiding a swift exit from the top flight.

"We are all working hard for each other. We have got some good players, but there is a big difference between being in the Championship and in the Premier League if you do not spend any money to make the team better," Kebe told reporters.

"The chairman has got the money anyway, it is not the manager who chooses who he can buy or not.

"It is easy to talk, but right now we are in big trouble, so you should ask the chairman if he wants to spend any money to make the team better so we can compete in the Premier League."

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