Reading defender Nicky Shorey has put contract negotiations on hold until the end of the season.

Shorey, who is under contract with the Royals until 2009, is believed to be the target of the Premier League's top four and Reading are keen to tie the full-back to a long-term deal.

However, Shorey has decided to put talks on hold until the summer - and it is thought the England international is waiting to see if Reading avoid relegation this season before making a decision on his future.

Reading director of football Nick Hammond does, however, remain confident positive negotiations will take place in the summer.

"In all honesty I think we will look again in the summer and see what the situation is then. He still has a year on his contract to run after this season," Hammond told the Reading Evening Post.

When asked if he thought Shorey was waiting to see if Reading maintain their top-flight status, Hammond added: "You'd need to speak to him in that respect.

"I think he'd already made the decision (about whether he wanted to sign a new deal) at the start of this season and there's no reason why that has changed.

"The important thing now is that he performs well up until the summer and then we will speak again."

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