According to TEAMtalk, Wolverhampton Wanderers are ‘keeping close tabs’ on Liam Moore after his impressive start to the season with Reading and may have to battle West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Southampton and Newcastle United for his signature.
Nuno Espirito Santo isn’t short on centre-backs with Conor Coady, Romain Saiss, Willy Boly and Max Kilman at his disposal, but he wanted another defender before the summer transfer window shut and had to settle on left-back Marcal to provide makeshift cover.
Why Moore?
Moore has been outstanding for Reading this season, helping the Royals keep six clean sheets in his first seven appearances.
The 27-year-old has played 630/630 minutes of Championship football, completed 85.7% of his 384 passes, won 22/36 aerial duels, blocked seven shots, made 30 clearances and has given away only one foul every 90 minutes on average.
More has averaged a tackle (6) or interception (8) every 45 minutes, been dribbled past only once every 315 minutes, created three chances, has yet to be dispossessed, won six free-kicks, has made only one unsuccessful touch and had two shots.
How much would he cost?
Reading paid £1m to sign Moore from Leicester City in 2016, but his Transfermarkt value has risen to £4.95m. It’s hard to see the Royals cashing in on their captain for so little, however, as he’s a key player in the squad who has three years remaining on his deal.
Reading’s most expensive sale is Kevin Doyle (Reading to Wolves for £6.84m in 2009/10), but Moore would garner a lot more money with all the Premier League interest. TEAMtalk say Moore is considered to be one of the best centre-backs outside of the top-flight, so he wouldn’t come cheap.
Prediction
I don’t know whether we really need Moore in January with Coady, Boly, Saiss, Kilman and Marcal on the books. Kilman and Coady have been in fine form of late too, so their place in the side looks guaranteed.
Nuno prefers to play with three central defenders, but we already have two players that can provide backup, so Moore wouldn’t want to sit idly by? I’m not sure if anything will come from this transfer rumour.
