Paul Ince told why ‘quality’ Andre Gray may be more suitable for Reading FC than Shane Long

Andre Gray’s “quality” and Shane Long’s ability to continue producing the goods in front of goal has presented Paul Ince with a massive Reading FC transfer dilemma.

Ahead of the opening of the summer transfer window (June 10), which is set to be full of speculation on incomings and outgoings, one position that is in clear need of attention is upfront and this is due to the latest news regarding star number 9 Lucas Joao. Berkshire Liveunderstands that if the right offer was to present itself to Mark Bowen and others on the Reading FC board, then it would most likely be accepted.

Newly promoted Nottingham Forest are among the Premier League clubs to reportedly hold a firm interest in the Portuguese. Joao has been spearheaded the Reading attack for a couple of seasons since completing his move from Sheffield Wednesday three years ago and with only one more year on his contract, this would be the prime time for the club to cash in on a player who has a current market value of £4million, according to Transfermarkt.

READ MORE: Reading FC eye potential transfer for fan favourite and Southampton striker Shane Long

Replacing a player that has helped Reading FC mount a playoff challenge and escape relegation in different seasons seems a big task for the club to contend with but it already seems as though Bowen has a couple of options on the table to fill that void. Enter the names of Gray and Long – two players who have fared differently during the last campaign for QPR and Southampton respectively.

The former of the pair had 11 goal contributions for Rangers including a great goal against relegated Derby County last November at Pride Park. “You saw a performance tonight, it was a fantastic finish by him and he’s got that in his locker. He’ll frustrate you sometimes, he won’t mind me saying he’ll hit Row X sometimes but then he’ll turn round and hit that quality,” now former QPR manager Mark Warburton said after that 2-1 win.

Warburton has continued to wax lyrical on the loanee throughout 2021/22, who could prove beneficial to Ince’s side next season. “He has been excellent around the place, his knowledge, his experience, hunger to do well, he is encouraging and demanding of others. He has never waived in terms of his commitment to the cause, so he deserves enormous credit,”he said two months ago.

If Gray didn’t have such a controversial past with Reading FC that formed after what he did during a clash when he was at Burnley, which will never be forgotten by the Royals faithful, then most of the fanbase would be giving the green light to this potential swoop. In comparison, one name who is adored amongst the supporters is Shane Long.

Of course, the Irishman has featured in significantly fewer games this term for the Premier League outfit in comparison to his Jamaican counterpart but what he has done in the past for Reading, with being part of the 106 record-breaking side, stands him in good stead if he was to come back for one last dance at the age of 35.

Something Ralph Hasenhüttl has already backed with his glowing verdict of a player who netted a total of two goals in all competitions during the 2021/22 season.

“From the physical side it is definitely possible for him to keep on going in the summer, definitely,” he said back at the end of May, 2022 via The Daily Echo. “He is very robust and when you are so quick, yeah you lose a little bit when you get older, but still quick enough for playing as a striker. It is no coincidence that he has played so many games in the Premier League.”

Whoever is signed to try and replicate the 52 goal contributions that Joao has collated over his tenure have a big job at hand. There is even a case to suggest that both should be signed as the pair could offer the attacking line a different dynamic with their different styles of play.

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