Maltese international striker Udo Nwoko moved closer to a move to the English Premiership when it was announced yesterday that he was set for talks with Reading.

He has been granted permission to talk to the English club by his present Portuguese first division club Leixoes.

Last Saturday, Nwoko played a whole 70 minutes in the 0-0 draw with Benfica in Lisbon. They are now occupying 16th place after 16 matches.

Nwoko had joined Leixoes at the start of last summer and since his move he has also been called to form part of the Maltese national team squad.

If the move materialises, he will become the first Maltese to have joined an English Premiership side.