Reading FC boss Paul Ince has admitted Southampton star Theo Walcott wanted to join the club in the summer transfer window.
Royals held talks with the Saints over a shock swoop for the former England international but a deal could not be reached between the two clubs.
Walcott, 33, has just under a year left on his deal at St Mary's having rejoined Southampton from Everton last summer on a two-year contract but has fallen out of favour under Ralph Hasenhuttl.
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The forward could only have joined Reading on loan or as a free agent due to Royals' transfer restrictions.
Ince said: "We were close to getting a deal for Theo Walcott. I spoke to him and we had a good conversation, but he had a year left [on his contract] at Southampton and we couldn't make the figures work.
"It is disappointing because the boy wanted to come. So now it's a case of who's out there on a free, but we do have Yakou Meite coming back which will help."
Reading are rather light up front having let George Puscas join Serie B side Genoa on loan. It leaves just Lucas Joao and Shane Long as the out-and-out senior forwards available to Ince. The manager says he is still looking to bring in a free agent striker to bolster his squad for the coming months.
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