Hammond expects Doyle exit

Royals director of football believes striker will leave in near future

By Richard Bailey   Last updated: 26th June 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hammond expects Doyle exit

Doyle: Plenty of offers

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Reading director of football Nick Hammond believes that Kevin Doyle will leave the club in the next few weeks.

The 25-year-old has attracted interest from a number of Premier League clubs in the last week with Wolves most strongly linked.

However the top-flight newcomers can expect competition from Aston Villa, Everton, Sunderland, Bolton and Fulham for the frontman's signature.

The Irish international is a proven goalscorer at Premier League level having hit the net 13 times for the Royals in their inaugural season in the big time.

Despite struggling to match that feat the following season, Doyle still attracted serious interest from Premier League clubs as the Royals were relegated.

Reading managed to hold onto their star asset but it now looks certain that the former Cork City ace is ready to leave the Madejski Stadium this summer.

"The interest has been followed up strongly by a number of clubs recently and now we are waiting to see what happens," Hammond told the Reading Evening Post.

Earned the right

"If the valuation is met (thought to be £6.5million) then, in my opinion, he has earned the right to go where he wants.

"I can't speak for Kevin and say where he will go - he is more than capable of speaking for himself.

"He is a Premier League quality striker, so it is unrealistic on our part to expect him to stay.

"He is such a good professional and I would love him to stay, but my gut feeling is he will move in the next few weeks."

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