READING FC director of football Brian Tevreden opened up about the ‘mental’ cost of buying players during the summer transfer window.

Royals owners Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li were quick to back boss Jaap Stam with the arrival of seven new players.

But Tevreden gave a revealing insight into the state of the market in general and the eye-watering amounts some clubs spent.

And he was also eager to stress the £7.5m fee Reading are reported to have paid for Fulham’s Sone Aluko is incorrect, though it is thought it remains a club-record fee.

Tevreden on the transfer window:

"We're happy. The manager asked for a couple of players in a couple of positions and we delivered.

"We knew the players we wanted to suit our playing style."

The arrival of Sone Aluko from Fulham:

"Let me be clear, £7.5 million is really not true. I don't know where it came from but it's not true.

"He was one of our top targets, he’s a very good player. We worked very hard to bring him in, it took a while but we got there in the end."

Reading’s failure to sign a second striker to add to Jon Dadi Bodvarsson:

"The funny thing is I saw something about Aluko and (Nelson) Oliveira, but it was one (of them) not two. This is Reading, not a Premier League club.

"Of course we were busy trying to sign a striker but people need to understand it needs to be the right price for the right player.

"The market was mental in the last window with some big prices flying around, it's not going to happen."

The increasing cost of buying players:

"It's crazy, it's a big challenge to bring quality players in for the right price.

“We need to be very strong in negotiations, and that's a big compliment to Ron Gourlay (chief executive) as well.

"I'm still a massive fan of the Academy. Some of on youngsters have gone to Holland and others have played in cup games.

"We watch a lot of Academy games and the future is right, but you also have to bring in quality players if you want to move forward."

The financial backing of Reading’s Chinese owners and the impact new chief executive Ron Gourlay has made:

"I want to say a big thank you to the owners because they are ambitious and so am I.

"They don't speak, but they handle and they back us.

Bracknell News:

Jaap Stam shakes hands with Reading co-owner, Dai Yongge.

"I speak daily with Ron Gourlay, we are on the phone every hour, so I deal with Ron.

"We clicked straight away, he came from big clubs and I came from Ajax which has the same mentality. We work closely together and we share the same principles.

"I want to be very clear, our ambition is to go up.“

The progress of Reading’s new Bearwood training ground:

"The owners have backed us by bringing players in. I know we need a good training facility if we want to move forward and Bearwood is still on the plan."

The summer departure of Danny Williams to Huddersfiield Town and Ali Al-Habsi to Saudi giants Al-Hilal.

"Everyone wants to do their business early and quietly. It was sad to see Ali go but I can understand why he left. He had a few good offer to move back to his family. It was sad but we brought in a fantastic keeper in Vito Mannone.

"With Danny, his dream was to play Premier League. It was really hard for him to say goodbye, but I think we have bought some good players in his position.

"Danny loves the club, we are still in contact with him, but I understand his ambition.

"You saw how devastated he was after the play-off.

Bracknell News:

Huddersfield Town players console Danny Williams after Reading's play-off final defeat at Wembley.

"Myself, I was really down for three days so I had to say, 'Brian, it's been a great season, we can push on.' The start of the season shows the players are still hungry which is good to see."

On the free agents and possible loan signings:

"I'm not a massive fan of loan players, they have a different mentality.

"You need to be very lucky to find a free agent who will fit into your system.

"There is often a reason why they are a free agent now. Yes we'll keeping looking, but it's unlikely."

On handing new contracts to several key players:

"We made a statement with John Swift, Liam Moore, Liam Kelly, Chris Gunter, we want to keep this core of players. We've also brought in quality players on long-term contracts.

"We are trying to build a stable squad and go up."

On Jaap Stam’s future after agreeing a new two-year contract.

"He did very well last season so his name was everywhere in the media.

"We always wanted to keep him. Jaap also likes stability and building for the long term, so he's in the perfect place. Why leave that after one season?

"He's settled here, the players like him, he's happy so why leave?"

Increased competition in the Championship this season:

“We are only starting our project, but I think we will be up there again this season, it's what I believe.

"I was really confident in our first season. Everybody laughed and said I didn't know what I was talking about, but I still thought we would be up there.

"Our players look hungry and sharp and I am confident again. Not everyone was fit at the very start but now there is competition as the level of quality is higher."

Clubs showing interest in Reading FC players:

"There is always interest in quality players, so it's good for us they are still here. Let's see what they deliver over the season."