Oxford defender Rob Dickie is being lined up for a potential return to Reading.
Dickie began his career at Reading and the Championship are one of several looking at the 24-year-old centre half.
Fulham and Middlesbrough have also made checks on the defender who was given the captain’s armband for the rest of the season before lockdown.
Dickie has been one of the stand out players in League One and has helped their push for the play-offs with a string of impressive performances.
Oxford would not want to sell as they rate him highly.
But many clubs now face the prospect of having to sell to survive because of the current financial climate.
There would be no shortage of takers for Dickie who has gained a reputation as a ball-playing centre half with strong leadership qualities.
Dickie joined Reading at the age of eight, was farmed out to non-league Basingstoke, played at Cheltenham and Lincoln City before making the Kassam Stadium home.
He played alongside the likes of Harry Winks, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Ben Chilwell for England under-19s.
But the 23-year-old believes it has been the perfect education as he has never lost his unshakeable belief that he will one day play at the highest level.
“I got out there early doors, I’m just shy of playing 200 first team games and senior football gives you such great experience,” said Dickie in an interview with Mirror Sport back in December.
“I had to do it the hard way because I wanted to play but I think I’m reaping the benefits now.
“As a footballer, if you don’t believe you can get there then you’ll never make it. When I was sent out on loan, I was thinking: ‘why don’t Reading want me?’ But I never lost my belief and it helped me in the end.”
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