Hunt has 'fingers crossed' for Reading takeover

Noel Hunt's Reading won three in a row before drawing at Charlton

Reading manager Noel Hunt says he is eager for positive developments on a takeover as the League One club aims to keep a "special group" of players together.

At the end of November, the Royals said a process remained ongoing to try to sell the club to a party they had granted a period of exclusivity to.

The unnamed group remains in negotiations while Hunt, who succeeded Ruben Selles on 6 December, is hopeful that he may be able to do business this month despite sixth-placed Reading operating under an English Football League (EFL) transfer embargo since October.

"Fingers crossed, we get a bit of good news coming into this new year," Hunt told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"We've had a great start - taking 10 points from 12 in the last nine days is outstanding from the lads and just shows how close and how strong we are as a group.

"Anyone looking to come in and get involved [should] look at the group. It's important we keep everyone together because it's a special group. We could do things with this group."

A newspaper report on Friday claimed that London-based financier Paul Taylor is the party in exclusive ownership talks.

Hunt said director of recruitment Brian Carey has been involved in attempts to re-sign attacker Chem Campbell, whose loan deal from Wolves expired on Monday after the 22-year-old produced five goals and four assists in 22 appearances.

"We 100% want him back," added Hunt. "He wants to stay, we want him here.

"He's part of us, he's part of our family. The boys love him, I love him. He has an amazing, infectious personality and is someone you want around the football club.

"We are still in talks to get things done. People at the club have been in contact with the EFL, making sure we get the stipulations right."

Campbell missed Reading's 0-0 draw at Charlton on Saturday through injury, although Hunt said a scan on the issue "didn't look too bad" and the former Wales youth international had wanted to train on Friday.

Reading host Championship club Burnley in the FA Cup third round on Saturday (15:00 GMT).