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Lincoln City came out on top of Reading last weekend in their League One opener, as both clubs have ambitions to reach the play-offs this season.
Noel Hunt has had his first pre-season in charge of Reading, and the club are looking to put behind them a few years of uncertainty and begin a hopeful march towards the Championship.
Meanwhile, Lincoln City have seen their stock rise over the last 10 years, from when they were competing in the National League to being regular fixtures of League One, with ambitions of climbing to the second tier.
While Lincoln came out on top of Reading at the weekend, the Royals will be hoping their fortune changes as the clubs battle it out for the signature of a player ‘hungry’ to secure a transfer to help his World Cup chances.
Lincoln City and Reading interested in Ronan Hale
Ronan Hale is looking to move away from his current employers, Ross County, after the Scottish club were relegated from the Premiership to the Championship last season.
As per information from our Chief Football Correspondent, Graeme Bailey, EFL Analysis understands Lincoln City and Reading are among several clubs who are interested in signing Ronan Hale.
It is believed there’s an expectation at Ross County that he will be on his way to England this summer, with League One the likely destination.
There is an understanding several enquiries have been made about the player; however, no one is necessarily pushing just yet.
Hale desperate for move to help World Cup dream
Hale earned an international call-up to Northern Ireland last season after his performances in the Scottish Premiership for Ross County, as he scored 18 goals across 42 appearances; however, the club were still relegated.
The 26-year-old is desperate to be part of the Northern Ireland squad that will attempt to qualify for the World Cup, as he explained to the Belfast Telegraph after his international debut.
He said: “I’m hungry for more now. It’s one that I can build on. I’ve done what I can, and hopefully it’s enough to keep me in the squad for the World Cup games, though it’s down to club form as well. I need to be performing every week because there’s a tough pool of strikers that are all competing to be included.
“There’s people playing in League One and the Championship in England, and we’re all fighting for that number nine spot. It’s healthy competition.”