On Friday, when Luís Castro was quizzed about taking the managerial job at Reading, he said he wouldn’t speak about anything until Monday.
His words made it pretty clear that something was happening in the background. Given the chance to dismiss the rumours, Castro only added to the situation.
Vitória Guimarães face Rio Ave on Sunday afternoon, and the manager didn’t want to disturb his squad, reports O Jogo.
Castro’s Vitória are fifth and Rio Ave sixth, the two clubs are level on points.
O Jogo say Reading’s interest is ‘so real’ that Vitória are already making plans to replace their manager should he take up the opportunity to move to the Championship club. It’s explained clubs always have a back-up plan, just-in-case, and Vitória are now making their plan more firm.
That doesn’t mean they’re given up on keeping the manager. There’s a hope he can snub the chance to take over at Reading, and therefore the Championship club paying the €1m clause wouldn’t lead to a move.
According to the Portuguese newspaper, Reading officials remain in the country, ready to pay the clause should they be given the positive signal required.
More will be known on Monday, and we’ll certainly be keeping an eye out for updates.
