Liam Moore Deal Appears Dead And Buried

Brighton and Hove Albion’s move for Liam Moore looks like it’s dead in the water. The Argus report that the Seagulls have had “no recent contact” with Reading over a potential move recently, and don’t appear to have the centre back down as a high priority. The Premier League can currently count on Shane Duffy, Lewis Dunk and Leon Balogun in the middle of defence and, although Chris Hughton wants another option in there, he’s not prepared to bid big for Moore.

BBC Berks’ Tim Dellor has also tweeted that Moore (and Modou Barrow) will be going nowhere.

The Reading Chronicle claimed a while ago that Reading’s asking price for their star player is in the region of £15m, some way ahead of Brighton’s highest offer: £8m. Whatever the specific fees wanted/offered on each side, it’s fair to conclude that Brighton have been put off by Reading’s stubborn stance on a player that would only end up being third/fourth choice at the Amex.

Assuming that Brighton are now out of the picture, there are three realistic possibilities left open:

• Reading keep Liam Moore and try to brush off the whole transfer request thing - most likely.
• Another team* comes in and, in a panic, splashes £15m on Moore out of nowhere.
• Moore heads out on loan before the end of August - not that likely or appealing, but still possible.

*Looking elsewhere in the transfer market, one of these teams could be Liam Moore’s former club Leicester City. The Foxes may end up losing defender Harry Maguire to Manchester United for north of £50m on deadline day, and would need a replacement - they might end up going back to their old player.

It’s only speculation at this point, but it’ll be interesting to see if those links do crop up if Maguire heads to Old Trafford.

All of this would also suggest that the recent links with Kortney Hause won’t amount to anything. The Wolves defender has reportedly been lined up as a loan signing by Reading, but may only arrive as a replacement for Moore.