Trading places: Magpies to offer cash plus Best to land Long

Newcastle are the latest Premier League club to be linked with high-flying Reading and Ireland striker Shane Long.

After a magnificent season in the Championship with the Royals last season, where he finished with 23 goals, Long has been linked with a host of clubs in the top flight since the play-off final defeat to Swansea, with Liverpool, West Brom, Everton and even Chelsea amongst those said to be interested.

Speculation on Long’s future has gone cold of late, but according to The Sun this morning, Newcastle have now entered the race to sign the 24-year old and are prepared to use his international teammate Leon Best as bait in an effort to bring him to St. James’ Park.

Best impressed in the immediate aftermath of Andy Carroll’s big money move to Liverpool in January, but missed out on the end of the season with an ankle injury and didn’t endear himself to manager Alan Pardew when he appeared topless in a Newcastle nightclub with Stephen Ireland the night before a Premier League game.

The Magpies have already signed Demba Ba this summer and are prepared to let both Best and gun-toting striker Nile Ranger to leave the club as long as they can add another forward to the squad.

Reading value Long at around €11 million, a valuation that has already scared off Celtic, but Newcastle are hoping that a fee of around €5.5 million plus Best will convince the Royals to let Long leave.