Royal watch! Reading in talks with Juve over link-up (could they rival Championship rivals Watford's foreign intake?



Reading FC look set to become the second Championship club with Italian roots after confirming they are in talks with Juventus about a partner club deal.

The discussions could result in the Royals - who were recently relegated from the Premier League - inheriting some of the top young talent from the Italian giants.

Fellow Championship side Watford were criticized last season for taking advantage of regulations by making 14 loan signings from abroad - mostly from owner Giampaolo Pozzo's other clubs Udinese and Granada.

Link-up: Juventus new signing Carlos Tevez - the Serie champions are one of the greats in European football Exciting: The deal would be a significant coup for owner Anton Zingarevich (left), benefiting Nigel Adkins (right) Russian owner Anton Zingarevich, who took over from the legendary John Madejski, believes that having the Juventus connection would be a huge step forward for Reading.

'Its good to get established with a club like that,' he told the Reading Post. 'They are looking for partner clubs and we’re in discussions right now. But there’s nothing to confirm yet, we are just in discussions.'

While there is no suggestion yet that Nigel Atkins' side would be taking quite as many players from Italy as Watford did, Zingarevich confirmed that this new link-up would see more players arriving from Juventus than is the case with another linked club, Galatasaray.



He said: 'It’s more in terms of player development.'

'They have 100 players on the books which they look to develop and so they are looking to get partnerships with clubs who can help them do that.'

Controversial: Gianfranco Zola's side were criticized for the amount of players from abroad they had last year

Another deal: The club already have a partnership with Turkish club Galatasaray, featuring Didier Drogba

The Royals: Readings nickname is showcased on Marussia's F1 car

Juve, lead by Antonio Conte, are enjoying a terrific domestic spell in Italy, winning the last two Scudetto titles.

This summer, they picked up their recruitmnet, signing ex-Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez and Spaniard Fernando Llorente, who has claimed that the club are as good as Barcelona and Real Madrid.