European giants Besiktas have reportedly launched a bid to sign Reading FC striker Lucas Joao.
According to national reports, the Turkish club have prepared a bid believed to be in the region of £2.5milion to tempt the Royals to sell this transfer window.
Joao has emerged as a transfer target for several clubs this summer in a deal which could help ease Reading’s financial struggles.
The Royals are under a transfer embargo and are in need of cutting down their wage bill and raising funds.
The club are currently unable to purchase players and can only sign players who are free agents or loan signings.
Joao has become a pivotal figure in Berkshire since arriving from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2019 for around £5million.
His first season at Reading was interrupted by injury but he managed to score six goals in 19 league games.
The following season under Veljko Paunovic saw Joao flourish as his goals had the Royals in contention for the play-offs for the entire season, until they missed out late on.
He contributed 19 goals in 39 Championship games in the 2020/21 season.
A hip injury kept Joao on the sidelines for more than five months at the beginning of the 2021/22 season.
But he returned from the long term injury and displayed excellent form to help the Royals in their fight against relegation.
Joao netted 10 times in 21 games and was awarded the EFL Player of the Month award for February.
Besiktas finished in sixth place in the Turkish Super Lig in the 2021/22 season.
