Wolverhampton Wanderers came very close to signing Danny Loader last summer, the striker confirmed in a Q&A on his Instagram account via Birmingham Live.
Wolves agreed terms with Reading back in August 2019 and had the 19-year-old at Compton to undergo a medical, but Reading pulled the plug on deadline day and he ended up staying at the Madejski Stadium.
Loader was asked about the move and said: “I was left in the unknown for a long period of time. I felt I reacted maturely and in a humble manner. Close….but not too close.”
The striker rose through the youth ranks to the Reading first-team in 2019 and has gone on to make 35 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals and making one assist.
Loader made 12 appearances across the board before the season was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. He scored one goal and made one assist but spent the majority of the campaign out of the matchday squad.
Mark Bowen has preferred George Puscas, Lucas Joao, Sam Baldock, Yakou Meite and Lucas Boye in attack, so Loader may have some regret that the Wolves move fell through.
Nuno Espirito Santo has named 17 players aged 21 or under in Wolves’ matchday squad at least once this season, given them 4231 minutes of football in all competitions and signed 19-year-old midfielder Enzo Loiodice & 19-year-old striker Leonardo Campana to develop into first-team players, so Loader would surely have fared better being at Molineux.
