Royals resigned to losing star Doyle

READING director of football Nick Hammond has admitted Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle will leave the club in the next few weeks and says the striker has earned the right “to go where he wants”.

The 25-year-old has already held talks with Wolves and Fulham, who are both prepared to meet the £6.5 million transfer fee that is written into his contract, while Bolton and Sunderland have also been in contact.

There are also two other unnamed Premier League sides keen to open talks with Doyle.

Doyle is a proven goalscorer at Premier League level having hit the net 13 times for the Royals in their inaugural season in the Premier League in 06/07.

Despite struggling to match that feat the following season, Doyle still attracted serious interest from Premier League clubs as the Royals were relegated.

Reading managed to hold onto their star asset but it now looks certain that the former Cork City ace will leave the Madejski Stadium this summer.

“The interest has been followed up strongly by a number of clubs recently and now we are waiting to see what happens,’’ Hammond said.

“If the valuation is met then, in my opinion, he has earned the right to go where he wants. I can’t speak for Kevin and say where he will go – he is more than capable of speaking for himself.

“He is a Premier League quality striker, so it is unrealistic on our part to expect him to stay.

“He is such a good professional and I would love him to stay, but my gut feeling is he will move in the next few weeks.’’