One winner and one loser at Reading FC as Royals strike agreement for Champiuonship player

Reading announced the loan signing of former England youth international Tom Ince from Stoke City on Monday night, coming in as the club’s second and final addition of the January transfer window.

The 30-year-old had started to become a more regular player for the Potters prior to his move to the Select Car Leasing Stadium – but did start the campaign out in the cold and would probably welcome a fresh start away from the Staffordshire club.

If that was the case, he’s got his wish with this move to Berkshire – with former Royals captain Liam Moore heading the other way in an unorthodox swap loan deal.

29-year-old Moore undeniably needed a move away after being stripped of the captaincy, with the club revealing last month that he had expressed a desire to leave Berkshire for the second time following his first transfer request back in the summer of 2018.

For all parties then, this could be an ideal move and considering he was left out in the cold during the early stages of the 2021/22 campaign, Ince will have a point to prove as he looks to continue his promising recent form.

Not everyone at the second-tier side will be a winner from this deal though, and although there is one squad member who clearly benefits from this transfer agreement, we also take a look at someone who could end up being a loser.

Winner: Lucas Joao

With George Puscas making the move to Pisa on deadline day, the partnership of the Romanian and Joao that looked set to blossom in the coming months completely disintegrated and he now looks set to start up top on his own for a while, at least until Yakou Meite returns.

Against Huddersfield, the Puscas/Joao combination worked reasonably well, so the latter will now need as much creativity from the midfield