Coppell keen on Korean

Last updated : 16 July 2007 By Angus Muller

Coppell, who is currently in Korea with Reading for The Peace Cup, told the local media that he could soon be adding another South Korean player to his squad to link up with Seol Ki-hyeon.

"This summer I'm looking to improve the current squad and I'm keen on a player from South Korea," he said.

"However, I can't reveal any more details at this stage as negotiations have not started."

The news has led to increased speculation on the future of Ulsan Hyundai star Lee Chun-soo, who had been previously linked to Reading's Premier League rivals Fulham and Chelsea.

Other South Korean players rumoured to be on Coppell's wish list are Tottenham's Lee Young-pyo and Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma playmaker Kim Do-heon.

Meanwhile, Coppell was satisfied with Reading's performance in the 1-0 defeat to River Plate on Friday.

"We haven't played for eight weeks and we've only been training for about ten days in total," he said.

"For us to play against such a good side as River Plate and for us to be so strong - certainly in the physical sense as the game developed - I was looking for these things and was quite pleased with what I saw.

"In the first half, with great respect to River Plate, they played some great football and we found it very difficult to get close to them.

"But after half-time we got ourselves organised a bit better, we played with a higher tempo and it was more of a game in the second."

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