Division One promotion chasers Reading have swooped to sign unsettled West Ham striker Paolo di Canio on loan.
West Ham boss Glenn Roeder will hold crunch talks with Paolo di Canio on Monday after falling out with the mercurial Italian striker.
Roeder has not spoken to the Italian striker since substituting him at West Brom almost three weeks ago and Di Canio responded by criticising his management.
And if Roeder fails to make peace with Di Canio, who is out of contract at the end of the season, Reading are hoping the striker will help boost their promotion campaign.
"We have made an official approach to West Ham asking whether Paolo can join us on loan. We will now wait to see what sort of response we get," said a Reading spokesman on the club's official website.
Reading are third in the Division One table, 10 points behind second-placed Leicester and seem certain of a play-off place at the least.
Di Canio, who has been in Bologna having treatment on his knee, was not only upset at being withdrawn against West Brom but is unhappy with the way the club have handled his contract situation.
The former Celtic and Sheffield Wednesday forward has already admitted his future lies away from the club and may see the Royals as a viable short-term option if he cannot resolve his problems with Roeder.
Di Canio accuses Roeder
Di Canio has persistently aired his problems in public, but Roeder will not get involved in a slanging match with the controversial forward and aims to deal with him face-to-face.
The manager said last week: "I don't like conversations down the telephone and I don't like two-way conversations through a television channel. My door here at Chadwell Heath is very rarely closed
"Paolo had a cold, then gastritis, then a period in Italy getting fit again so it is very difficult. When he comes back on Monday we shall have a chat."
Roeder is hopeful the Italian still has a major part to play in the Hammers' fight against relegation.
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