Reading Football Club

• Nickname:Royals
• Founded:1871
• Manager:Brian McDermott

• Ground:Madejski Stadium
• Capacity:24200

Mensah frustrates Royals

07 Oct 2006 - 09:51:22

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Reading's director of football Nick Hammond has revealed his frustration at failing to land Ghana defender John Mensah before the summer transfer window closed.

The Royals failed with several bids for high-profile players during the close season, but it was missing out on Mensah that was the biggest blow to Hammond.

He told the club's official website: "We made a number of substantial offers during the summer, way above our previous transfer record for Leroy Lita.

"With most of them we were unsuccessful because the clubs themselves were simply not prepared to do business and sell their player.

"It has been widely reported that John Mensah was a player we wanted to sign.

"We had spotted him back in the African Nations and he went on to have a very good World Cup playing in an excellent Ghana team. But his contractual arrangements proved to be highly complicated.

"He was on a season-long loan from Chievo (Italy) to Rennes of France, who had a firm option to buy him at the end of that loan period.

"They did take up that option, and despite us making a number of offers to them above the money they paid Chievo, they were adamant that they were not going to sell him."