Hull City have been given permission to speak to Republic of Ireland striker Shane Long by West Bromwich Albion after the Baggies accepted an undisclosed offer which could rise to £7 million. Former Reading frontman Long, 26, almost joined the Tigers from Albion in the summer and is now set for talks over a move to the KC Stadium. He has six months left on his Baggies contract, though the club could still take up the option of a further year. Richard Garlick, the West Brom Sporting & Technical Director, told Albion's official website:
"We began talking to Shane about a new contract last spring and, during the ongoing negotiations, we made him two offers which would have significantly increased his salary. However, despite our best endeavours, Shane has declined to sign a new contract. "Shane effectively only has 18 months left on his deal and with him no closer to accepting our terms and then Hull making an acceptable offer, we felt it was in the club's best interests to accept the bid."
Steve Bruce has made remodelling the Hull strikeforce his top priority in the winter window. The Tigers have also completed the signing of Everton's Nikica Jelavic on a three-and-a-half-year contract for a reported club record fee of £6.5 million.
Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.
