U.S. national team defender Tim Ream is a man in demand.
Ream, 27, is a fans favorite at Bolton Wanderers after joining the club in 2012 from the New York Red Bulls but he could be on the move.
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After two impressive seasons which have seen him named the club’s Player of the Season back-to-back, Ream has interested two other Championship sides based in London.
A source close to the deal has confirmed to ProSoccerTalk that both Fulham and QPR are interested in signing Ream before the transfer window shuts on Sept. 1.
The source claims that QPR are growing impatient with Bolton after tabling bids, as manager Neil Lennon and the directors are reluctant to sell Ream, such is his importance to their defense.
Fulham’s interest is fresher, with the Cottagers eager to improve this season after spending most of 2014-15 in the lower reaches of the Championship following their relegation from the PL in 2014.
Would either side be a step-up for Ream? Both QPR and Fulham is expected to make a charge towards the top six this season but its far from a forgone conclusion. Many would argue that Ream is better off staying where he is at Bolton as Lennon took charge last season and in a limited amount of time plenty of progress was made.
That said, with Fulham’s long history of attracting American players and the draw of living in London advantageous to most players, perhaps Ream and his young family need a change of scenery after nearly four years in Lancashire. The St. Louis native played for the U.S. at the 2015 Gold Cup but was used sparingly by Jurgen Klinsmann and if he wants to become a regular in the USMNT setup, its likely he will need to join a team either in the PL or one that gets promoted to England’s top-flight.
Less than six months after joining Bolton in 2012, Ream was relegated from the Premier League and Bolton have been scrapping away in the second-tier of English soccer ever since.
