Rumour Mill: Royals chasing Davies and Buttefield

Reading are reportedly chasing Championship duo Curtis Davies and Jacob Butterfield.

Butterfield, 21, is currently captain of Barnsley. The young midfielder has come through the Tykes academy to make 89 appearances and put himself on the radar as a hot prospect. Premier League sides Everton and Newcastle are also keen on Butterfield, who is out of contract at the end of the season. This will however mean that a tribunal would agree a fee if he was to leave on a free transfer.

Davies, who currently plays for play-off chasing Birmingham, was named in the PFA Championship Team of the Year. The former Aston Villa defender is also being chased by Norwich City, despite Paul Lambert stating he is after proven Premier League players. However, if the Blues fail to gain promotion, Reading are reportedly keen to pounce.

Reading will be keen to bolster to their back line in the coming months, with Alex Pearce and Kaspars Gorkss currently the only recognised centre backs at the club. The future of fellow defender Sean Morrison is still unknown but is not likely to play a big part in the Premier League next season, likely meaning that the former Swindon player will depart on loan again.

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