Wolves tie up Reading's Kaspars Gorkss loan

Wolves today confirmed the loan signing of Reading defender Kaspars Gorkss – with big hopes of more arrivals to follow.

The 6ft 3ins Latvia national captain, 31, has agreed a move to the end of the season with a view to becoming a permanent signing in the summer.

An undisclosed fee has been agreed with Reading for the left-sided former Blackpool and QPR stopper, who had 17 months left on his Royals contract.

Wolves saw off late competition from Blackburn for Gorkss' signature, with doubts over whether owners Venky's would back boss Michael Appleton for the capture of what would have been cover for Scott Dann and Grant Hanley, whereas he has more chance of a regular starting place at Molineux.

Gorkss arrives with an impressive pedigree at this level after winning Championship title winners' medals in the last two seasons with QPR then Reading, playing 41 and 42 League games respectively in each of both clubs' successful promotions.

An uncompromising, ball-winning centre-back in the mould of Jody Craddock, he is seen as major competition for Christophe Berra, who is out of contract at the end of the season and is set to leave.

Gorkss, who boasts around 50 caps, is also vocal and is seen as a genuine on-field leader.

Chief executive Jez Moxey said: "We're delighted to have completed the signing of Kaspars Gorkss.

"The manager wanted to strengthen the defence and we hope to have done that with Kaspars.

"We hope there will be more signings in the loan window."

This term Gorkss has made 13 full Premier League appearances, plus three more in the Capital One Cup, but none since December 17.

Gorkss moved to England with Blackpool in January 2007 from Ventspils, where he won the Latvian higher league after spells in his home country with FC Auda then three years in Sweden with Osters and Assyriska Foreningen.

He was also a promotion winner via the League One play-offs with the Tangerines in 2006-07, playing 50 League games for Blackpool before a £250,000 switch in 2008 to QPR, where he played 114 league games in three years before adding a further 55 at Reading.

Saunders is already focusing on more loan signings for the survival run-in before the window shuts on March 28.

A left back and a striker are also among his targets.