UPDATED NEWS: As a loan agreement is submitted, Reading faces competition for a Premier League midfielder.

a League One team Journalist Darren Witcoop claims that Reading is believed to have offered midfielder Gavin Kilkenny on loan to Premier League club Bournemouth.

The 23-year-old, who spent time last season on loan at League One rival Charlton Athletic, is anticipated to leave on deadline day after Reading made a loan offer to the Irishman.

The race for his signing, though, is heating up with just hours left on deadline day as the Royals face competition from rival teams in the third division as well as from Scotland.

Including Harvey Knibbs and Sam Smith, who both joined from Cambridge United, as well as Charlie Savage, a midfielder who made a permanent move from Manchester United, Reading, who were relegated from the Championship last season alongside Wigan Athletic and Blackpool, have so far made seven signings this summer.

Kilkenny has now made a total of 24 appearances for the Premier League team across all competitions during a fairly hot-and-cold period at the club. In addition, the Irish midfielder made four appearances for Stoke City during the first half of the 2022–23 campaign.

The midfielder then spent the second part of the previous season on loan at Charlton Athletic, but he found it difficult to make an impact there as he only made eight appearances for The Addicks overall.

The Royals have played five games, won two of them, lost three of them, and scored four goals. Rubén Sellés’ team is presently ranked 16th in League One.

Gavin Kilkenny has reached the age when he needs to begin playing regular football after unsuccessful stints at Charlton Athletic and Stoke City. The next team, along with others, eager to take a risk on the Irishman in an effort to restart his career is Reading.

The midfielder had made 24 games for Bournemouth, mostly in the Championship, so there is obviously something in the player that is worth going for. If Reading were to complete the signing, it could be a nice bargain.

It will be intriguing to watch how this one turns out.