Back in September, with Preston having not made a summer signing, a rather bizarre ruour emerged in Europe.
Newspaper Record – one of the leading sources in Portugal – reported that Preston were in advanced talks to sign Alfa Semedo on loan from Benfica.
They even suggested that Preston would announce the deal within hours, seemingly very confident that North End would be landing him.
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Sources later told us that the rumours were ‘nonsense’, and Semedo would instead end up signing for Reading on a season-long loan.
The 23-year-old blew hot and cold at Nottingham Forest last season, and with Preston well-stocked in midfield, a move to Deepdale just didn’t quite add up.
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On Wednesday night, Semedo is likely to start against Preston, and will have a chance to show just how good he is against the side he was rather randomly linked with less than two months ago.
Semedo has been a part of Reading’s outstanding start to the season, playing a key role in Veljko Paunovic’s side whilst earning huge praise for his performance against Blackburn Rovers last week.
Semedo notched two assists, two successful dribbles, eight duels won and two tackles, proving to be an all-round midfielder upon his return to the Championship, though he wasn’t on top form in Friday’s defeat at Coventry City.
Preston will have to deal with Semedo if they’re to pick up a result at the Madejski Stadium on Wednesday night, with North End no doubt hoping to keep him quiet after those bizarre rumours.