Hunt feels 'wounded' after Reading block Everton move

Stephen Hunt last night spoke of his anger and disappointment after Reading blocked his move to Everton on transfer deadline day.

The Republic of Ireland winger, who is primed for a World Cup start against Georgia in Mainz on Saturday, revealed he felt 'wounded' when the 11th hour move to the Premier League broke down on Monday night.

'It (Everton) was a big club and it was disappointing that Reading could not have helped me out a little bit to benefit my career.

'For what I have done for them, it would have been nice,' he said after Reading reportedly rejected a £3.5 million bid from Everton.

'There's a £5 million release clause in my contract. Reading would have got a big chunk of that up front and the rest within a year but they (Reading) did not want to budge,' he said.

But Reading manager Steve Coppell disputed Hunt's version of events, flatly denying there had been an offer from Everton at all.

'I read on Sky we were supposed to have turned down a £3.5 million bid from Everton for Stephen Hunt but that was not the case,' said Coppell. 

'I spoke to David Moyes, I think on Sunday, and he was just making a call regarding a number of players and asking the situation.

'Nobody at this club heard from Everton so it (the bid) was incorrect. It was part of the media frenzy,' said Coppell.