Reading boss: We can’t hold onto Shane any Long-er

Reading manager Brian McDermott has admitted he cannot stop Shane Long from leaving the club this summer as speculation mounts over a big switch.

The Republic of Ireland international is linked to numerous top Premier League clubs including Chelsea, Liverpool and Newcastle and also with a move to the SPL with Celtic.

"If a Premier League club comes in and we decide the deal is right and Shane wants to go there's nothing we can do," McDermott told Skysports.com

"It's important I do the right thing by him as well. For me he'll go down as a very special Reading player."

Long hammered in 25 goals in all competitions last season and is hot property in the transfer market.

“Shane is world class,” Reading Chairman John Madejski is record as saying. “What is the value I would place on him? £20m. Now we’ll just have to see what happens.”

A transfer fee of £20m from any club for Long’s services is probably wishful thinking and a bid closer in the region of £12m.

"Do I want to lose Shane Long? No, absolutely not," McDermott added.

"Last season we lost Gylfi Sigurdsson just before the transfer window shut and it took us a while to get over that - 12 or so games."