West Ham Bid EIGHT Million for Readings Shane Long

[Macmoish]

Forget whether they sign him. THEY obviously are seeking - and seek the value of - Premiership football

Guardian

West Ham bid £8m for Reading striker Shane Long
• West Brom also interested in player but yet to make firm offer
• Midlands club close to taking Birmingham's Ben Foster on loan

* Stuart James

West Bromwich Albion are edging closer to signing Ben Foster on loan from Birmingham City but are running the risk of missing out on another of their targets after West Ham United entered the race to sign Shane Long by making a £8m bid for the highly rated Reading striker.

Roy Hodgson, the Albion manager, is an admirer of Long and would like to add him to his squad but the Midlands club have failed to turn their interest in the Republic of Ireland international into a concrete bid.

Several other Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, are also tracking Long, who scored 21 goals in the Championship last season.

It is understood that West Ham's offer values Long at about £5m, with the remaining £3m to follow in add-ons. Reading are almost resigned to losing the 24-year-old, who has 12 months remaining on his contract.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jul/25/west-bromwich-west-ham-shane-long

[RoryTheRanger]

Blimey I didn't see that coming, West Ham must surely come back up now.

[gibraltar]

i think long is good enough for the epl tbh.

i hate wet spam, so dont want them to do well.

[gibraltar]

Skysports.com understands Reading have rejected a bid from West Ham for Shane Long.

The Hammers are believed to have tabled a firm offer for Long as they look to win the race for the in-demand striker.

A host of Premier League clubs are thought to be chasing the Republic of Ireland international following his goalscoring exploits at the Madejski Stadium last season.

The likes of West Brom, Newcastle, Everton and Newcastle have all been credited with an interest in Long this summer.

The Royals are willing to let Long, who is entering the final year of his contract, move on for the right price after they failed to secure promotion to the Premier League last term.

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is in the market for a new striker and he had targeted a move for Long in a bid to steal a march on his rivals for the Irishman.

The Hammers are thought to have offered £5million rising to £8million with add-ons for the 24-year-old.

However, Reading are understood to have turned down the offer with the club preferring to sell him to a Premier League side rather than a Championship rival.

It remains to be seen if West Ham will come back in with an improved bid and the news is sure to spark Long's suitors into action for the former Cork man.

www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12876_7062360,00.html

[RoryTheRanger]

Fair do's from the Fakes there, I think he is worth more than £5m.

[Macmoish]

Something just a little incongruous that a Second Division ("Championship") team are spending (or trying to spend) tons of money to try and win promotion (West Ham and Leicester)....and a certain First Division ("Premierhip") Team are spending almost nothing to try and stay up.

[dsqpr]

Must admit, I was really hoping that he would be one of our transfer targets if Reading didn't go up.

(Reference to other thread:) I'd give him our #10 shirt in a heart beat!

[waterbuffalo]

Jul 26, 2011 23:25:30 GMT dsqpr said:

Must admit, I was really hoping that he would be one of our transfer targets if Reading didn't go up.

(Reference to other thread:) I'd give him our #10 shirt in a heart beat!

yes, I wanted him the day after Reading lost, and I wanted Reading to lose so we could get him. Seems like years ago.. ;D