Striker Shane Long could be about to complete a Reading return - more than a decade after leaving the club.
The 88-cap Republic of Ireland forward has seen his contract at Southampton expire last month. After he wasn't part of the group that returned to pre-season training earlier this week it was confirmed he had left the club.
His exit brings to an end an eight-year association with the South Coast club. That opens up the option of moving elsewhere on a free transfer - and move back to the Royals has been mooted.
Mark Bowen, Reading's head of football operations, was quizzed on the possibility of bringing Long back to the club where he played between 2005 and 2011.
He was also asked about Andre Gray, another player without a club after leaving Watford. Bowen said: "Shane Long - I worked with him at Southampton and I've worked with Andre Gray as well.
"They are players we have looked at and continue to look at. It's in that complicated process - are they suitable for us as players first and foremost? Are they suitable financially? And it might come down to one or two players but they are players we are looking at at the moment."
Recent years have largely seen Long, now aged 35, play second fiddle at Saints. He has also been heavily chastised for his lack of goalscoring threat having scored just 12 goals in the last four years.
His goal last season in a 2-0 win over Everton was his first in the Premier League for two years. Between those two strikes the only goals he had plundered were in the Championship during a loan stint at Bournemouth.
Following that drought-ending goal against the Toffees, Saints' chief Ralph Hasenhüttl saluted Long's character.
"Longy’s a very, very important player for our team: he’s fantastic in the dressing room, and we’re very happy for him. He’s always positive, and he’s not always had an easy time, not playing, waiting for his chance.
"I think he knows very well what role he has to play now at this age. He’s a role model for how you should act. This is the reason why we decided to extend his contract two years ago."
Despite those warm words, Long is now searching for a fresh start and the club where he enjoyed his best-ever scoring season - he hit 21 for the Royals in the 2010-11 campaign - may be just the tonic.
Reading handed Paul Ince the manager's job on a permanent basis this summer after he led them to Championship safety last term. The club are only permitted to sign free agents or loanees because of an embargo placed on them by the EFL for breaching financial rules. Reading begin the Championship season away at Blackpool on July 30.
