Reading look set to miss out on top target Josh Laurent with less than 48 hours until the deadline slams shut.

The 27-year-old, who only joined Stoke City from Reading in the summer, was targeted for a Berkshire return, with talks taking place last weekend as the Potters smashed the Royals 4-0.

Further reports suggest that the club had offered out-of-favour Ovie Ejaria in the other direction, but the club turned down the creative star.

Made captain by boss Alex Neil yesterday, the midfielder scored a stunning goal in a 3-1 win over Stevenage in the FA Cup.

Prior to the match, the Scot had referred to the links as 'nonsense' and 'slim to zero chance of happening.'

One midfielder, Chelsea's Cesare Casadei, is on the brink of joining from the Blues- but Ince said at the start of the month that he wanted two midfielders to bolster the squad.

This relies on outgoings, with Casadei set to replace the injured Dejan Tetek in the first team squad but keeps the team at 25-men, which is the limit due to breaching FFP restrictions.

The deadline is 11pm on Tuesday, January 31.