News and Views

Glenn Murray Signs - But Only On Loan

01 September 2014
By Hob Nob Anyone?

As the transfer deadline passed Reading fans were left waiting for official confirmation that the Royals had signed Glenn Murray from Crystal Palace. When confirmation did come through it only confirmed a loan signing. Murray completed his medical during the afternoon and appeared to be heading to Reading on a permanent deal. However as the deadline passed it was reported that the transfer will be just a loan that will last until January 2015. The deal was delayed while Crystal Palace completed other activity in the loan market, which threatened to cause some late disappointment. Palace were only willing to let Murray go if Kevin Doyle or another striker arrived on loan. As the Doyle loan was confirmed it enabled Murray free to complete a loan transfer to Reading.

After the confirmation during the afternoon that Royston Drenthe had completed a loan arrangement to join Sheffield Wednesday until January, all went quiet. It quickly become clear that Reading were only chasing the one signing. Earlier this morning the rumours of possibly signing Dean Hammond, Yun Suk-Young and John Fleck were all dismissed - leaving Reading chasing the single target of Glenn Murray. No other names were linked with the Royals, and it seems we have managed to keep hold of the rest of the squad. Shipping Drenthe out on a loan is a big achievement - as is signing a much needed striker, even if only on loan.

Glenn Murray has had a successful career at Crystal Palace despite an injury ruling him out of most of last season. He signed for 300,000 pounds from Brighton in the summer of 2011 after a successful spell with Rochdale. At Brighton he scored 56 goals over a two and a half year spell. In the 2012/2013 season at Crystal Palace he was in amazing form scoring 31 goals in the season including two hattricks. He hasn't got back to that kind of form since injury but he certainly has the potential in his first full season back. Palace fans appear bitterly disappointed with the prospect of him moving on, which can only be good news for Reading. You'd hope, if Murray does well at Reading, the deal could still become permanent in January.

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