Royals cool on Fae bid

Nicky Hammond has cooled rumours that Reading are close to signing Emerse Fae.

Nantes' sporting director Xavier Gravelaine claimed over the weekend that the Premier League club had revived their interest in the Ivory Coast international.

Reading tried to sign the 23-year-old last summer and were tipped to make a fresh bid after Nantes' relegation from Ligue 1.

But director of football Hammond has revealed Steve Coppell currently has no plans to go back in for Fae.

"We were interested in Fae last summer, but he hasn't played a lot of football for Nantes this year for various reasons," Hammond told the Reading Chronicle.

"We've had no further discussion with Nantes since then."

Coppell has only signed Khalifa Cisse since the end of last season and remains keen to add to his squad before the start of the season.

But Hammond was quick to dismiss speculation that Reading held an interest in Jason Koumas, Phil Jagielka and Hayden Mullins.

He added: "We've been aware of all the transfers this week and we were not involved with those players, and that wasn't because of money."