• Premier League

McDermott doubts Reading will sign Arshavin

ESPN staff
December 27, 2012
Andrey Arshavin has been restricted to just six Premier League appearances from the bench © Getty Images
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Brian McDermott has played down reports that Reading are trying to sign Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin.

Arshavin has been repeatedly linked with a move to the Madejski Stadium to join former Zenit St Petersburg team-mate Pavel Pogrebnyak, while Russian owner Anton Zingarevich has already expressed interest in signing the forward.

However, while McDermott confirmed the Royals would be looking to do some business in the January transfer window, he expressed doubt that he would sign Arshavin.

"I don't think so," McDermott said after Reading's goalless draw with Swansea. "At this time of year you hear lots of rumours. I have heard that one.

"We are talking at the moment regarding players. If we could bring in two or three players that could make a difference, it would be useful to the squad.

"We don't generally deal in big prices. We try to get players that are available. I'd like to bring in two or three with a little bit of experience at the level."

Reading failed to score for the fourth time in five matches, but a clean sheet at home to the Swans on Boxing Day ensured McDermott's side ended a run of seven successive defeats to leapfrog QPR to climb off the bottom of the table.

"We need to do whatever we have to do to get results," McDermott said. "We were much more resilient. It is important to move on with a point and we can look forward with confidence to West Ham. We have got a point and a clean sheet and we are off the bottom of the table."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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