Royals shun Shorey offer

Reading have confirmed they have rejected a £4m offer from West Ham for England left-back Nicky Shorey.

Royals boss Steve Coppell described the offer as “nigh on derisory” and insisted the 26-year-old was still on course to play against the Hammers on Saturday rather than for them.

He said: “I cannot deny there was a written offer made.

“Given the price of players today we thought it was nigh on a derisory offer. We turned it down immediately and we have had no contact since.”

Shorey has recovered from a knee injury picked up on England duty earlier in the month and is set to go straight back into the side.

One man who is on his way out of the Madejski Stadium is defender Sam Sodje who has agreed to spend the rest of the season on loan at Charlton.