This article is part of Football League World’s ‘The Verdict’ series, which provides personal opinions from the FLW writers regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Reading will be needing to further add to their squad before the transfer window comes to a close following a challenging start to the new Championship season.

The Royals have been aiming to bring in some extra options in the left-back position during the transfer window and according to the latest report from The Sun on Sunday (22/08/2021, p59) they have joined the race to secure a potential loan move for Sheffield United’s Max Lowe.

It has previously been reported by The Sun that Lowe could be allowed to leave Sheffield United this summer on loan with him having not been able to force his way into Slavisa Jokanovic’s plans at the start of the campaign.

Reading have been joined by Barnsley and Swansea City in their interest in Lowe and it is going to be interesting to see what happens with the defender’s immediate future before the window closes.

So with Reading in the hunt for Lowe, we asked our FLW writers whether they feel it would be a good signing for the Royals to make…

George Daglees

I think it could be a decent signing.

Lowe is a good player, he's just not had much luck at Sheffield United with how things have gone for him.

I think there was every good intention behind his move to the Blades and it could well have worked out well for him but, ultimately, that is not what has happened.

Even so, he's a good player with plenty still to offer and I think Reading could be potentially pulling off a bit of a shrewd move if they can get him.

We know he has quality at this level and the hunger to obviously prove a point now so I think the Royals are certainly wise enough in taking such a potential punt here.

Billy Mulley

This could be an excellent signing if Reading manage to pull it off.

Max Lowe is seemingly down the pecking order at Sheffield United, and that is not to do with his incompetence at Championship level, instead it appears that Salvia Jokanovic has some good options ahead of him in Rhys Norrington-Davies, Ben Osborn, and once he returns from injury Enda Stevens.

Although, having excellent options in the left wing-back role is something to be desired by a manager, having too many talented personnel for one position can sometimes lead to members of the squad turning unhappy, and that could have happened, or could still happen with Lowe.

The 24-year-old has the attacking drive and defensive stability to operate as a modern day full-back and would certainly bolster Reading's back-line.

Tom McIntyre is currently filling the left-back void at present, and whilst the young defender has looked comfortable, the signing of an out-and-out left-sided full-back is needed.

Ben Wignall

It seems as though Lowe is the third-choice at Bramall Lane behind Enda Stevens and Rhys Norrington-Davies - that's a strong crop to choose from for Slavisa Jokanovic and for a player of Lowe's abilities he doesn't deserve to be out in the cold.

Lowe has featured at four different youth levels in his career for England and he was expected to kick on at Derby County, and he did in 2019-20 until he was snapped up by the Blades and then only played eight Premier League matches last season.

It does seem as though the 24-year-old needs to leave Bramall Lane for the good of his own career, and Reading are a team in desperate need of a left-back.

Tom McIntyre is being used there right now following the departure of Omar Richards to the German powerhouse of Bayern Munich and young Ethan Bristow has been playing further forward - McIntyre's best position is that of a centre-back and Lowe arriving would allow him to slot back into the middle of the defence.

Lowe brings good attacking qualities to a team down the left flank and he would be a more-than capable replacement for Richards for the season - with the transfer issues Reading have been through though it's likely going to be a loan deal if they can get it over the line and that will be just fine - especially if there's a view to make it permanent next summer.