As things stand, Reading are unable to strengthen their side due to a drawn-out takeover process which is still yet to be concluded.
However, that won't stop supporters, coaches and pundits alike from judging the squad and start planning for a new season, which starts in three weeks.
Looking to build on the feel-good factor and run of form garnered at the end of last season, Ruben Selles will hope to have time to add to his squad and improve.
Take a look below at three positions we believe the side need strengthening in before the new campaign.
Left-back
A position that the club had nailed for a period, with the likes of Dylan Kerr, Nicky Shorey, Ian Harte and Jordan Obita all excelling at left-back, it is proving difficult to secure in recent years.
Since Omar Richards’ departure, the Royals are yet to truly replace the youngster and have flip-flopped between options. Baba Rahman, Clinton Mola and Jeriel Dorsett have all filled in adequately in the last three years, but the squad is still crying out for an experienced and dedicated left-back rather than a stopgap.
This has only been exacerbated by Mola’s departure to Bristol Rovers, leaving Dorsett and John Ryan as the only two options with senior and Under-21 experience.
Centre-back
It is not often that a club can rely on a centre-back pairing to contribute 44 appearances each, especially when the Royals have been blighted with injury crises in recent seasons. Last year, Ruben Selles had the likes of Nelson Abbey, Tom McIntyre and Tom Holmes to fall back on while Tyler Bindon and Amadou Mbengue looked imperious.
After exits, this is now down to just Harlee Dean and a couple of Under-21 regulars yet to get a chance in the first team. Unless the fitness coaches are confident that the players will stay injury-free, which is an impossible factor to guarantee, then another central defender wouldn’t go amiss.
Wide player
Femi Azeez, who has contributed 11 goals in 88 appearances, has one wide spot nailed down. However, the opposite side is up for grabs. Paul Mukariu, Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, Harvey Knibbs, Dom Ballard and Mamadi Camara all had spells there, with varying degrees of success, but neither were as consistent or prolific as Azeez.
Mukariu is back off to Copenhagen, Ballard Southampton and Knibbs moved inside. Does Ehibhatiomahn, a striker by trade, want to keep playing out wide? Probably not ideally. For balance and threat
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