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Reading are closing in on the loan signing of Chelsea midfielder Nathaniel Chalobah.

The 20-year-old, who had a spell at Middlesbrough last season, has been linked with moves to Ipswich and Watford but Steve Clarke looks to have won the race for the talented England Under-21 international.

Royals, who are currently looking at Polish goalkeeper Jakub Slowik, are hoping to push through a deal by the weekend.

If confirmed, Chalobah will become Clarke’s first signing since taking over at Madejski Stadium.

The midfielder, who can also fill in at centre back, spent the first half of the campaign on loan at Premier League side Burnley.

He was expected to join French club Bordeuax last week but the move fell through due to FIFA’s three-club rule which determined he had already played for Chelsea and Burnley this season so couldn’t join another top flight side.

That rule does not stop him moving to a Championship club so Clarke, who spent three years as assistant to Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, has moved quickly to raid his former club.

Meanwhile, former Reading striker Adam Le Fondre is set to complete a shock loan switch to Huddersfield Town.

The 28-year-old left Madejski Stadium to sign for Cardiff City in the summer but has struggled to adjust in south Wales.

He has scored just three goals in 25 appearances and now looks set to spend the second half of the campaign at the John Smith’s Stadium.