Leicester City are closing in on the club record signing of striker Shane Long, according to reports last night.
City are said to be winning the race to sign the Reading striker, beating off interest from Premier League Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion and Championship rivals West Ham United.
City have tabled an initial £6 million bid. The deal will rise further depending with add-ons and clauses, including goals targets and promotion.
The Mercury revealed last week that Long had emerged as City’s number one target.
City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson admitted the Republic of Ireland international was on his list on the Football Forum on BBC Radio Leicester on Monday night.
Eriksson has said that if City were to bring in a striker, it would be a big signing.
Should Long join City, the deal would eclipse the £5 million City paid for Ade Akinbiyi in 2000 and take Eriksson’s summer spending to more than £15 million.
The reports contradict Royals boss Brian McDermott’s assertion yesterday that City could forget about signing Long as he believed a Premier League club would come in for him.
When asked about Eriksson’s interest in the 24-year-old, he replied: “They’re interested in every player, so there’s no news there.â€
Long, who scored 23 goals last season, has 12 months remaining on his Reading contract, but they are resigned to losing him.
McDermott said: “My experience tells me that with his goal-scoring record and ability someone will come in from the Premier League at some point. Shane is completely faultless as far as Reading are concerned.â€
Former Royals skipper Matt Mills has already made the switch to the King Power Stadium during the transfer window.
The Hammers and Albion are both said to have had offers rejected, but the Hammers were expected to return with an improved offer, and Long has refused to rule out a move to Upton Park.
“If it was true they were interested, West Ham are a big club, so it would definitely be something for me to think about,†said Long.
“However, I wouldn’t be that disappointed if nothing happened and I stayed at Reading. I’m happy here and I like playing under the manager.â€
Eriksson has admitted he has other targets and has tried to land Bristol City’s Nicky Maynard.
He is also reported to be interested in Nigeria international Kalu Uche, who has been linked with a move away from Spanish club Almeria following their relegation.
City are still working on a season-long loan deal for Swiss midfielder Gelson Fernandes, who joined Eriksson’s Manchester City from Swiss side FC Sion in 2007, and made 59 appearances.
City have also announced their squad numbers for the Championship season which starts at Coventry on Saturday.
There are no squad numbers for Michael Ball and Aleksandar Tunchev, who are still hopeful of landing deals at the club. The full list is:
1 Kasper Schmeichel, 2 Lee Peltier, 3 Paul Konchesky, 4 John Pantsil, 5 Matt Mills, 6 Sol Bamba, 7 Paul Gallagher, 8 Matt Oakley, 9 Steve Howard, 10 Andy King, 11 Lloyd Dyer, 12 Sean St Ledger, 13 Darius Vassell, 14 Martyn Waghorn, 15 Bruno Berner, 17 Michael Johnson, 18 Franck Moussa, 19 Richie Wellens, 21 Chris Weale, 22 Yuki Abe, 23 Neil Danns, 27 Jeff Schlupp, 35 David Nugent
