West Ham bid £8m for Reading striker Shane Long

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.