Speaking after the opening day defeat to Blackpool, Reading manager Paul Ince said he is still after a left-back, midfielder and striker before the end of the transfer window this month.
READ MORE: Reading FC transfers: Three left back's available this summer
Still under an embargo, it will remain free agents and loan deals for the remainder of the season.
We look at three strikers on the market that the Royals could pick up this month.
Lewis Grabban
Someone well-known to Reading fans, Grabban spent the second half of the 2016/17 season on loan with the Royals, netting three times in 19 appearances.
One of the most prolific forwards in second tier history, the 34-year-old has been a master goal scorer for the likes of Bournemouth, Sunderland and Norwich City.
Coming off the back of a four year stint with Nottingham Forest, in which he hit double figure goals in three of them, the London-born forward was released following the Reds' Premier League promotion.
Never one to rely on pace, he won't have lost much of what makes him a great goalscorer despite being toward the back end of his career.
Andy Carroll
Another former Royal, Carroll netted two in eight for Veljko Paunovic last season.
Suffering an injury-hit last few years, the 33-year-old got himself fit in Berkshire last campaign and went on to score three in 15 for West Brom upon the end of his deal with Reading.
READ MORE: Reading FC transfers: Three midfielders available this summer
A former England international, Carroll was a cult figure in seven years with Premier League West Ham United, as well as a popular figure with hometown club Newcastle United.
Due to be heading to Belgium this year, his deal to Club Brugge fell through and he is again without a club.
Daniel Sturridge
Similar to Carroll, the once highly-regarded striker is without a club after being released.
A regular Premier League scorer with Chelsea and Liverpool, injuries hampered the 32-year-old's career as he spent the last three years hardly playing for Trabzonspor and Perth Glory.
After his Australian journey ended in release, perhaps a chance to reignite his career back home could be what the doctor ordered for a key member of the once deadly duo SAS.
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