Former Reading FC striker Jayden Wareham could be set for a summer move despite Exeter City manager Matt Taylor revealing the club have yet to receive a formal bid for the forward.
Wareham, 23, scored 22 goals in 53 appearances for Exeter last season, establishing himself as one of the club’s most highly-rated players.
The striker has subsequently been linked with a move away from St James Park, although Taylor says Exeter have so far received no official offers.
“There have been phone calls, but we’ve not had a bid for Jayden Wareham,” Taylor told BBC Radio Devon.
“I can’t put a handle on why that is. He had a fantastic season last season.
“We’ve seen players with similar numbers from a goal return go for substantial amounts of money to a certain level in the game.”
Wareham’s emergence at Exeter will be of particular interest to Reading supporters given the circumstances of his departure from the club last summer.
The forward came through the Reading academy and was offered a new contract by the Royals, but ultimately decided to leave the club in search of a new challenge.
The length of the contract on offer from Reading was understood to be a factor in his decision, while concerns over a lack of regular first-team opportunities also played a part.
Wareham subsequently joined Exeter as a free agent.
His decision has proved a successful one, with the striker going on to enjoy a prolific campaign despite Exeter’s relegation from League One.
Taylor admitted that, given Exeter’s financial position, a significant transfer fee for Wareham could have a major impact on the club.
“If the right fee comes in for Jayden Wareham it means the club can survive for the next couple of seasons if not a little bit longer, so there is a bigger picture that we have to look at,” he said.
“But from a manager’s point of view you want your best players.
“To lose Jayden at any stage would be a massive blow, he’s irreplaceable, but we might be able to use a little bit of finance to bring in a few more players and strengthen the squad as a whole.”
Taylor said Wareham would be the first to know if a formal offer arrives.
“It might still happen, it might still come, but it’s not happened as yet,” he added.
“Jayden will be the first to know when it does happen and the club will respond accordingly if and when it does.
“In the meantime we’ve got a very good centre-forward who is chomping at the bit and ready for the next game.”
For Reading, Wareham’s progress represents an interesting case of what might have been.
The club opted to offer the striker a new deal last summer, but Wareham chose to pursue regular first-team football elsewhere.
A year later, his 22-goal season has made him one of Exeter’s most valuable assets, with Taylor acknowledging that a sizeable transfer fee could help secure the club’s financial future.
