By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

21st Jun, 2023 | 5:02pm

Sources: Reading to appoint ex-Southampton manager Ruben Selles as deal agreed

Reading have agreed a deal to make ex-Southampton boss Ruben Selles their new manager, sources have told Football Insider.

The Royals are close to finalising the appointment of the 40-year-old, who left St Mary’s Stadium at the end of the 2022-23 campaign.

Selles is set to become Reading’s first permanent manager since April, with Paul Ince’s sacking leading to Noel Hunt taking the role of interim boss until the end of the season.

The Berkshire outfit were relegated to League One last season – with poor form and a points deduction leaving them five points adrift of 21st-place Cardiff.

Selles also suffered the ignominy of relegation with Southampton, with the Saints returning to the Championship for the first time in 11 years after finishing bottom of the Premier League.

Reading looked set to make former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder their next manager.

However, Football Insider revealed on 15 June that the move was initially delayed – before both parties decided to end negotiations.

The Royals have now turned attention to Selles, who was given his first job in senior management in February after leading Southampton to a 1-0 win over Chelsea as interim boss.

He was appointed as an assistant manager last summer (2022) but survived the sackings of Ralph Hasenhuttl and Nathan Jones to take the top job.

However, results didn’t improve with the Spaniard at the helm – with Southampton winning just two of a possible 16 Premier League games as they slumped to relegation.

Selles also led the Saints to a famous 2-1 FA Cup defeat against Grimsby Town.

Reading, who have already had eight senior players depart the club, will find out their first League One opponents on Thursday morning (22 June).

In other news, Premier League giants to make new swoop for Southampton star.