West Bromwich Albion should make a loan move for the reportedly available Southampton hitman.
West Brom boss Darren Moore will be desperate to bolster his attacking ranks at the Hawthorns before the loan window closes on Friday, and Southampton’s Shane long might just be the ideal addition to his squad.
According to a report from the Sun (print edition August 26th, page 61), Celtic are interested in signing the 31-year-old, but the Baggies should challenge the Hoops for his signature.
Long joined the Saints from Hull City in the summer of 2014, for a fee believed to be worth in the region of £12 million, and he has gone on to score 27 goals for the club.
He has fallen down the pecking order at St Mary’s, however, following the arrival of Danny Ings, and Mark Hughes is prepared to allow him to leave on loan.
The Republic of Ireland international is an incredibly industrious centre-forward, and his hard work ethic, and willingness to make unselfish runs into the channels would provide West Brom with the qualities that they lost when Salomon Rondon joined Newcastle earlier this month.
Long would be the perfect strike partner for Dwight Gayle, and would offer stiff competition for Jay Rodriguez through the middle.
His reported availability on loan makes a move for him a no-brainer for West Brom, and Moore should not hesitate to bring him to the Hawthorns before Friday’s deadline.
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