Reading stumped up an initial fee of £2.5 million to take Matej Vydra on loan this season from Watford but the striker’s agent says that figure was “too much” for a club to pay for his client.

The Czech Republic international, following two successful loan spells, joined the Hornets this summer permanently from Udinese and signed a five-year deal at Vicarage Road.

However, Vydra soon fell out of favour with Golden Boys head coach Quique Sanchez Flores who has said the 23-year-old failed to adapt to his tactical methods.

Vydra was made available for loan in the final days of the summer transfer window and a number of Championship clubs – including Brighton and Hove Albion – had hoped to sign the striker.

It was Reading who were able to strike a deal with Watford on deadline day. The Royals paid a hefty loan fee and will cover Vydra’s wages this season. Steve Clarke’s side also have the option of making the move permanent should they achieve promotion.

But according to the striker’s agent, Ondrej Chovanec, the package Reading agreed with Watford was excessive.

“To pay more than £2 million – £2.5 million with bonuses, in my eyes, is too much,” he told the Brighton Argus.

Chovanec also revealed he held advanced negotiations with Brighton before Reading swooped in to sign Vydra.

He explained: “I visited Brighton before the window closed. I met Paul Winstanley (head of recruitment). We had a very nice discussion, a very good discussion.

“I was very surprised by the facilities and had a very good impression from what I saw there and from the meeting as well.

“I spoke also with the manager. He explained everything. He was a very kind man and I had a very good impression.

“He (Vydra) knew about the interest. He also had discussions with the manager. He was impressed.

“They were very close with Reading and one other club. Finally Watford found agreement with Reading.”

“Watford pushed three clubs to pay as much as they could,” he added.

“I don’t know what Brighton’s final proposal was. I had a feeling from Watford’s point of view they were not favourites to make a deal because they didn’t offer the highest loan fee.”