SOCCER:SHANE LONG is set to complete his €8.2 million move to West Brom today, with the 24-year-old believed to have agreed a four-year deal with the Premier League outfit to end months of speculation regarding his future.

The scale of West Brom manager Roy Hodgson’s admiration for the Republic of Ireland striker is reflected in the size of the fee which is well in excess of the club’s previous record, the €5.5 million paid to Real Mallorca for midfielder Borja Valero three years ago. It represents quite a piece of business too for Reading, who got nearly 50 goals from the Tipperaryman in the six years since they paid a virtually nominal fee to Cork City for him at the same time they bought Kevin Doyle.

Long, who scored 25 times for Reading last season, had been linked over the summer with the likes of Newcastle United, Everton and West Ham United. In the end West Brom saw off a determined challenge by Leicester City for his signature, with Hodgson apparently having to match an attractive package of personal terms that had been offered to the player by Leicester manager Sven Goran Eriksson.

The sense of urgency surrounding the move grew as the start of the Premier League season approached and with Peter Odemwingie, top scorer at the Hawthorns last season, currently struggling to overcome an ankle injury. Long looks likely to go straight into Hodgson’s squad for Saturday’s game against Manchester United.

The need to finalise the deal and complete his medical meant Long’s arrival in Dublin for tomorrow’s friendly international against Croatia was delayed although it was hoped he might join up with the squad late last night.

Earlier, though, Trapattoni had welcomed news of the impending move with the Italian hailing the potential for Long to complete his footballing education playing against some of the very best defenders in the world.

“I said to him that he can learn more from playing against stronger opponents,” he said.

“The job of a striker is very difficult and in the Championship there is a lot of waiting for the ball to be played long to you, but in the Premier League there is more of an opportunity to play football.

“He knows the position and he has good qualities but of course he can improve. He is fast, he jumps very well, he has no fear, he attacks the ball. But he needs to learn when to help his colleagues and when to go himself.

“He needs to know this,” he continued. “People ask me what I see in (Caleb) Folan but he understands this situation. Long has many good qualities, though. He is powerful, can shoot with his left or his right foot. He has power and speed but he can improve other aspects of his game and the manager (Hodgson) can help with this.”

Asked about the prospect of Long and Simon Cox getting to play together at club level, the Italian was enthusiastic. “It’s a good mix. One is fast while the other plays his football with a little more experience.”

Cox himself was certainly positive about the prospect of Long’s arrival even if it means increased competition for a place in the side, with Long likely to be paired with Odemwingie over the course of the campaign if the pair can click.

“I think the manager’s going to bring him in to play alongside Peter,” says the striker who scored twice in four appearances for Ireland after being given his chance by Trapattoni at the end of last season, “so it’ll be down to me to try to produce performances in training to try and find my way into that team.

“He will be a great addition to our team, though. You know what Shane gives you – pace and power.

“His record last year was very good and hopefully he can come in and produce for us what he did for Reading . . . if it all goes through.”

The pair actually spent over a year together at Reading but managed just a little over an hour of first-team football together. “We mainly played reserve team football and trained together at Reading. We didn’t play that many games together but we were quite compatible. It’s nice to have someone beside you who’s the not the same type of player as you are.

“He was a bit-part player when Reading were in the Premier League last time but if he keeps doing what he did in the Championship last season, I don’t see why he can’t be a hit for us in the Premiership this time.”