According to Saturday’s Sky Sports Transfer Centre Live (14:44), Sky Bet Championship 2nd placed side West Bromwich Albion were looking to raid rivals Reading to bring Liam Moore to The Hawthorns.
They reported that the Baggies were looking at Moore as reinforcement due to defensive injury to key central defender Kyle Bartley coupled with a perceived lack of depth at the back. Bartley went over on his ankle earlier this month against Brentford and his place has been taken by Dara O’Shea. However, West Brom doesn’t see this as an ideal situation and, according to Sky Sports, “feel that the 25-year-old former Leicester centre-back will significantly strengthen their defensive options.”
Moore signed for Reading from Leicester City in late-August 2016, joining the Royals for a fee of around £1million. The Loughborough-born defender has since featured in 161 games for the Berkshire side, including 23 this season in the Sky Bet Championship.
Reading currently sit 14th in the Championship league standings due to a somewhat mixed season. They are 7 points shy of the last playoff position held by Sheffield Wednesday and a comfortable 11 points safe from the last relegation place that is in the hands of South Yorkshire side Barnsley.
With these stories circulating, club captain Moore has spoken to the Reading Chronicle and given his side of the story and point of view. Commenting on the rumours, Moore said: “The keyword there is rumours. I’m just trying to keep my performance up now. I said that the left centre half is my best position, I know what I can do there.”
That stock answer might not be enough to convince some Reading fans as to whether Moore will stay a Royal after January. It does come, however, on the back of Reading’s third consecutive win and this might provided a degree of added reassurance to fans hoping that Mark Bowen’s side can kick on up the table with Moore anchoring the defence.
