Bristol City defender Taylor Moore has suggested that he has a contract with the Robins that he plans to stick with for the moment, but he did not rule out the possibility of a permanent exit.
Moore was allowed to leave Ashton Gate during the summer transfer window, with Nigel Pearson informing him that he would not be a guaranteed starter for him this season.
As a result, the defender decided to make the move out on loan to the Scottish Premier League with Hearts as he aimed to get some regular game time under his belt and showcase his quality in a new division.
The 24-year-old has managed to make five appearances for Hearts in the league so far since making the loan switch from Bristol City.
Moore has been able to help the Scottish Premier League outfit record two clean sheets in that time and has won an average of 4.6 duels per game.
Speaking to the Edinburgh Evening News, Moore suggested when asked about a potential permanent move to Hearts that he still has a contract with the Robins that he plans at the moment to stick to. Although he did not rule anything out at this stage.
He said: “I have a contract at Bristol City and there is still quite a long time on it as well.
“My main concern is just enjoying my football this season and helping Hearts. When Bristol City decide to send someone out on loan, it’s probably for the long-term development of the player as well.
“They made that decision based on my best interests and theirs. At 24-years-old, I couldn’t afford to sit around and not play. The manager, Nigel Pearson, was very honest with how he saw things and that’s what you want as a player.
“If a manager isn’t feeling you or doesn’t really want you in his team, you want him to tell you. The problem I had was the contract. I couldn’t really afford to tear that contract up and walk away. A loan was the best option.
“You have a contract with a very good club. I plan on sticking to that for the moment but we’ll see how it all goes.”
The verdict
Moore is going to face a crucial decision over his long-term future next summer.
He has a contract until 2023 with the Robins, but it is difficult to see him managing to get into a position where Pearson suddenly views him as a crucial player when he returns to the club at the end of the campaign.
The 24-year-old will be used to playing regularly for Hearts by the time his loan deal finishes. He might not want to go back to sitting on the bench or not being sure of where he sits within the squad at Bristol City.
That is why it is sensible for him to keep all of his options on the table and that is what it seems as though he is doing with these latest comments around his long-term future.
The fact that he is being asked about a potential permanent move to Hearts by their local press, suggests that he is performing well for the Scottish Premier League outfit.
The loan spell is therefore going as he would have wanted when he made the decision to move North of the border. All he can do for now is maintain performance levels and see what the future holds for him next summer.