PAUL Clement says Liam Moore’s new contract is just reward for his commitment to Reading FC.

Moore withdrew a transfer request last week after talks with Royals’ owners Dai Yongge and Dai Xiu Li to end speculation of a £10m-plus move to Premier League Brighton.

The 25-year-old centre-back is now on the verge of penning a major new deal which will make him the highest paid player at the club.

While Moore’s dramatic U-turn drew criticism from supporters, boss Clement insists Royals are only paying him what he’s worth.

“The club are in discussions, yes,” he said.

"It shows the club's commitment to keep the best players here in order to take us forward.

"It's reward for when the best players do well.

"All along Mr Dai and Miss Dai were adamant that, whatever another club might say, he is a player with a big future here.

“They said all along he wasn't for sale, so I was pleased.

"But more than anything I'm pleased he's back on the pitch with the captain's armband."

Moore did not feature in Reading’s first two fixtures this season – both ending in defeat to Derby and Nottingham Forest – during the midst of the transfer speculation.

But he wore the captain’s armband on his return on Tuesday night and helped keep a first clean sheet of the campaign as Royals knocked Birmingham City out of the Carabao Cup.

Reading Chronicle:

Yakou Meite celebrates after putting Reading 1-0 up against Birmingham before John Swift notched the second.

"The club recognises we have a talented player who has come to us from the level above,” said Clement of the former Leicester City defender.

“When you go to that level you have the ability to earn double, I know what Premier League salaries are.

"A professional footballer's career is short, maybe 10 or 15 years if you're lucky.

"So I don't begrudge any player who tries to maximise their potential.

"What we have shown is that if we value him at a certain amount and another club values him at that amount, there should be a financial reward.

"At the same time we are a Championship club, we have to be sensible with finances. It will always have to fit in line with the structure of the club."

Clement stressed the club will not break the bank to stop players like Moore from making big-money moves.

"While the current owners are here it will be run sensibly,” he explained.

“I don't think we are a club which risks everything to get where it wants to go.

"If you don't, the ramifications are massive, it can ruin a club. It's a huge gamble.

"We have Financial Fair Play regulations now and we work very closely with the English Football League."

Reading Chronicle:

Marc McNulty was one of several new signings who impressed for Royals on Tuesday night.

Clement brought in seven players during the transfer window, and the former Swansea and Derby boss was clearly happy with the backing he received from Royals’ Chinese owners.

"Some of the fees for players were 'undisclosed,' but there was a big, financial outlay,” he stated.

“Even the players who came on free transfers demand good salaries. So there has been investment from the club this window.

"Considering where we were last season, I didn't expect us to do so much in one window.

"We've signed seven players which I think is a decent amount, it's not drastic.

"But we dealt with the priorities, not just in terms of positions, but ages, experience and leadership which I felt the dressing room needed more of.

“We needed more honest and hard-working players who would give their best for the club and put the team first."