Reading's capture of Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak on a free transfer is close to being done, according to the club's director of football.
Club chief Hammond hopeful of deal being finalised soon
Reading's capture of Russian striker Pavel Pogrebnyak on a free transfer is close to being done, according to the club's director of football Nick Hammond.
Sky Sports reported earlier this week the Royals were
closing on the frontman and Hammond has confirmed the imminent move.
The 28-year-old, who spent the second half of last season at Fulham after joining from Stuttgart, is understood to have agreed terms on a four-year deal with the Premier League new-boys.
The Russian had been in talks over a permanent contract at Craven Cottage, where he scored six goals in 12 league outings, but it appears he has been unable to reach a deal.
Pogrebnyak is now poised to join last year's Championship winners, having reportedly completed a medical at the club on Thursday.
"Things have progressed well and we are hoping to have an agreement finalised soon," Hammond told
getreading.
"Pavel is a good player and both myself and the manager (Brian McDermott) have had some good discussions with him.
"We are hopeful that we will have the deal finalised soon once he is granted a work permit, which we don't envisage he will have any problems getting."
Coup
The Royals' signing of Pogrebnyak would be seen as a major coup, with Aston Villa also thought to be keen on the striker.
He would mark the first player to join the club following Anton Zingarevich's £25million takeover.
Reading boss McDermott is thought to have several other transfer targets in mind this summer, including Tottenham defender Sebastien Bassong and Watford stopper Adrian Mariappa.
But Hammond is keeping quiet over the identities of the other players on the club's wishlist.
He added: "I've got a number of discussions ongoing and we are hoping to complete on some other deals soon."
