Convey Deal 'Basically Done'

Last updated : 21 July 2004 By Rob Cooper

Twenty-one-year-old left-winger Bobby Convey should sign for Reading within the next couple of days, according to reports in the Washington Post.

Convey will cost the Royals £550,000 and an estimated £5,000 a week in wages but despite the cost, John Madejski is prepared to sanction the move for one of the USA's best young players.

A DC United source admitted that the deal is near completion.

"It's basically done. We're down to the nitty-gritty and I would expect another day or two before it's finished," he said, speaking to the Washington Post.

Other figures, who come from within Convey's camp, described the transfer as a "done deal".

However Convey, who has been capped twenty-five times by his country at the tender age of 21, could have his transfer to Reading delayed by a troublesome thigh injury which has prevented him from training in recent days.

Yet it is believed that he should be fully fit by the weekend, so should have no trouble undertaking a mdeical examination at the Madejski Stadium.

Indeed, the youngster is said "not to be planning" on playing in DC United's game against Dallas this Saturday as he believes that he will have sealed his move to England.

A potential move to Tottenham fell through a year ago for Convey when the Home Office refused to grant him a work permit.

In order to be eligible for a work permit a footballer must have played in 75% or more of his country's internationals in the past two years.

It is unlikely that Convey will have the same problems completing a move to England this time around as he has played in 7 out of the USA's last 9 internationals.

Another source described the potential move as an excellent one for Convey, who has issued repeated 'come and get me' pleas to Europe's top clubs over the past year.

"It's a terrific move for Bobby because Reading are looking at him as a marquee (star) player to lead them to the Premier League," the source said to the Washington Post.

Both Tottenham and Reading had expressed an interest in signing Convey, but Spurs dropped out of a move for the 5ft 9inch winger, allowing the Royals to step in and bring Convey's five-year DC United career to an end.

Both DC United and Convey's advisors are officially refusing to comment on a possible transfer at this stage.

>Bobby Convey - Potential Signing Profiled