Long gone? Reading fear star is on his way
Published 23:00 06/06/11 By Football Spy
Reading manager Brian McDermott admits he is powerless to stop £3million-rated leading scorer Shane Long moving to the Premier League.
The Republic of Ireland international hit 25 goals last season, but the Royals must play another year in the Championship after losing to Swansea in the play-off final.
McDermott now faces the prospect of getting the right price for the Cork-born striker, 24, who has been linked with Newcastle and Everton. Scottish giants Celtic are also in the frame.
“If a Premier League club comes in and we decide the deal is right and Shane wants to go, there is nothing we can do," he said.
“It is important I do the right thing by him. For me, he will go down as a special Reading player. But I don’t want to sell Shane.”
Long arrived at Reading in 2005 as a makeweight in the same £117,500 deal with Kevin Doyle, how at Wolves, and has scored 44 league goals in 94 starts.
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