Post by chipdude on Apr 13, 2007 10:43:30 GMT -5
Reading boss Steve Coppell accepts it is all but certain Steve Sidwell will be plying his trade away from The Madejski Stadium next season.
In the club's debut Premiership campaign Sidwell has excelled in the centre of midfield and his assured performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere.
The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United have been mooted as possible suitors, while Newcastle are also thought to be monitoring the player's situation closely.
Coppell, while keen to extend his player's contract that expires in the summer, is now willing to accept that in all likelihood Sidwell will seek pastures in the close season.
"With Siddy, between now and the end of the season I’ll probably leave him out a few times because we need to find out what it’s like without him," Coppell told Sky Sports News.
"Realistically, we have to say he’ll probably go given the fact he’s playing well.
"Other clubs are going to be looking at him and realistically he’ll probably move on.
"We still hope to keep him and still knock on the door, but I’ve said all year that it’s an exciting time for him and lots of other clubs would love to have him.
"I anticipate he won’t be here next year so we’ll chop and change a bit. If the big boys come it’s hard to resist and we might not like the law of the jungle, but we accept it.
"He’s got decisions to make and I’ve got to do what’s best for Reading so I’ll chop and change."
In the club's debut Premiership campaign Sidwell has excelled in the centre of midfield and his assured performances have not gone unnoticed elsewhere.
The likes of Chelsea and Manchester United have been mooted as possible suitors, while Newcastle are also thought to be monitoring the player's situation closely.
Coppell, while keen to extend his player's contract that expires in the summer, is now willing to accept that in all likelihood Sidwell will seek pastures in the close season.
"With Siddy, between now and the end of the season I’ll probably leave him out a few times because we need to find out what it’s like without him," Coppell told Sky Sports News.
"Realistically, we have to say he’ll probably go given the fact he’s playing well.
"Other clubs are going to be looking at him and realistically he’ll probably move on.
"We still hope to keep him and still knock on the door, but I’ve said all year that it’s an exciting time for him and lots of other clubs would love to have him.
"I anticipate he won’t be here next year so we’ll chop and change a bit. If the big boys come it’s hard to resist and we might not like the law of the jungle, but we accept it.
"He’s got decisions to make and I’ve got to do what’s best for Reading so I’ll chop and change."
anyone else heard this?