A general view as Everton and Southampton players walk out for kick off of the Premier League match at Goodison Park, Liverpool. Picture date: Sunday May 18, 2025. PA Photo. See PA story SOCCER Everton. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA _(Image: Martin Rickett)_
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Reading have been linked with another swoop for Everton youngster Reece Welch, 12 months on from their first reported interest.
The 21-year-old has spent over a decade rising through the ranks at Goodison Park but is finding game time hard to come by with the Premier League giants.
An England Under-20 international, the youngster spent the first half of 2023/24 on loan with Forest Green Rovers and managed 23 appearances during his short spell in Gloucestershire.
In September 2024, the defender moved to Belgian side Deinze but he managed just two appearances before returning to Merseyside in December and the club went bankrupt.
With two Toffees appearances under his belt but none since 2022/23, Welch has now entered the final year of his contract.
[According to Football Insider,](https://www.footballinsider247.com/everton-reading-reece-welch-premier-league-league-one-david-moyes-noel-hunt/) the Royals have registered their interest in the youngster for the second summer in a row. The difference from last year being that the club can now operate freely in the transfer market after the the end of their transfer embargo.
The Royals are likely to be targeting a central defender, having had a trialist play in the second half of Saturday's 5-1 win over Hungerford Town to kick off pre-season.