WANDERERS could offer Turkish midfielder Jem Karacan a contract at the Macron.

The 28-year-old former Reading star had been looking for a Championship move and recently spent a spell on trial at Norwich City.

But the move did not materialise and Phil Parkinson is understood to have brought him to Lostock for a trial, with a view to a short-term deal.

Karacan spent 11 years with the Royals, and made 21 Premier League appearances at the club, but moved to Turkish giants Galatasaray on a Bosman in 2015.

His spell at his boyhood club did not work out as planned, however, and his contract was ended by mutual consent in January after a spell on loan at Bursaspor.

Wanderers have been without a box-to-box midfielder all season with Darren Pratley requiring two bouts of surgery on a fractured ankle and Mark Davies sidelined long term with damaged knee ligaments.

A hard-working player very much in the Jay Spearing mould, Karacan was captain of Reading and comes highly recommended to Parkinson – another Royals favourite.

And an injury to Spearing, who damaged his medial knee ligaments in the 1-1 draw with Bristol Rovers last night, could force the Whites to move quickly to secure his services.

Wanderers have also been boosted by news of a new sponsor for their academy.

A deal is expected to be announced in the next few days with Hong Kong based Digital Bank, with another Far East company, Pigeon Barrels finance, also given advertising space around the ground.