3 Things That Could (And 3 Things That Definitely Won’t) Happen On Transfer Deadline Day

This is a bit odd isn’t it? Transfer deadline day is upon us, yet we’ve only played one league game this season and there are still 22 days left in August. But the mad rush to sign players on permanent deals still exists, and Reading may have some business left to do in these final 18 hours. Here’s three things that could happen with the Royals and three things that definitely won’t...

Could Happen

Liam Moore to leave

As much as Liam Moore has been Reading’s best player over the last two seasons, it’s probably best for all parties if he departs today. Having handed in a transfer request, the 25-year-old clearly sees his future away from Berkshire, and the Royals would receive a pretty decent transfer fee were he to move on.

Brighton have been the only side linked with Moore throughout the summer, but appear to have ended their interest, with Sheffield United’s Jack O’Connell and Wigan’s Dan Burn on their radar instead. It could well be the case that a different club goes in search of a centre-back today, and knowing that Moore is available, approach Reading in an attempt to buy him.

Kortney Hause to sign on loan

If Moore were to leave, his likely replacement would be Kortney Hause on loan from Wolves. The Premier League newboys handed the centre-back a new three year contract in April and rate him highly, but are keen for him to go out on loan this season to play regular football.

The 23-year-old made just four appearances last season and his only previous spell away from Molineux came at Gillingham in 2014. It’s worth noting that even if Hause doesn’t make the switch to the Madejski Stadium today, all is not lost as the loan window remains open until August 31st.

Jay Fulton to sign from Swansea

The most likely permanent arrival at the club today is Jay Fulton, currently of Swansea City. The centre midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Wigan Athletic, but started the Swans’ first game of the season against Sheffield United on Saturday.

The Sun have reported that Reading are in discussions with the Welsh club over a fee for Fulton, whilst WalesOnline suggest that he would be free to leave but if only they can buy a replacement for him. The 24-year-old played five times in Paul Clement’s reign at the Liberty Stadium.

Won’t Happen

Marcus Maddison to join from Peterborough

Whilst it is true that Marcus Maddison will likely leave Peterborough today, it seems almost certain that his new club will not be Reading. The Royals were heavily linked with the 24-year-old playmaker earlier in the summer, but Posh chairman Darragh MacAnthony confirmed on Twitter a few weeks ago that we were out of the running.

That’s not stopped Reading’s name popping up in rumours surrounding Maddison however, although they are joined by Blackburn, Derby, Leeds, West Brom, Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Wigan in their interest. It means that the two Championship clubs who reportedly activated his £2.5 million today really could be anyone. According to multiple reports though, it’s unlikely to be Reading.

Mo Barrow to join Leicester City

Aside from Liam Moore, the only other played linked with a move away from Reading in the last week or so has been Mo Barrow, who media in Sweden have claimed is on Leicester City’s radar.

How much truth was in this rumour is questionable, with agent talk seeming the most likely considering Barrow and his representatives’ connections in Sweden. Even if the Foxes were tracking the Gambian winger, Rachid Ghezzal’s switch to the King Power Stadium from Monaco means Barrow’s departure from Berkshire would be a huge surprise.

Darren Bent to join on a free transfer

Probably the last player in the entire world that will join Reading today is Darren Bent, after the striker’s recent war of words with Paul Clement.

Working as a pundit for Sky at Reading’s game with Derby last Friday, the 34-year-old, who is currently a free agent, claimed that it was “inevitable” Clement would fail at Pride Park because he changed his “philosophy” and training methods and “didn’t like confrontation”.

Clement hit back on Twitter, writing he “sensed some bitterness” from Bent, who he labelled “overweight and lazy.”

But it wasn’t over. Bent then appeared on TalkSport on Tuesday, saying: “What shocked me was – and a lot of Derby players can attest to this – that when I was at Derby with him, I was asking why I wasn’t playing and I never got this answer.

“I would go and see him (Clement) and ask that question face to face why I wasn’t playing, but this is what I meant by the whole confrontation thing, whereas it was easy for him to tweet that.

“We are represented by the same guy. If he had a real problem with me, he could’ve picked up the phone and called me but this is what I meant by the confrontation thing.”

So yeah, a reunion is probably off the cards...