Soccer

Hull close in on Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic

Tigers’ owner claims to have agreed a fee with West Brom for the Republic of Ireland striker

Shane Long: “It’s business at the end of the day and we’ve got a lot of options up front. If they do want to let me go we’ll deal with that hurdle when it comes, or if it comes.”
Shane Long: “It’s business at the end of the day and we’ve got a lot of options up front. If they do want to let me go we’ll deal with that hurdle when it comes, or if it comes.”
Tue Jan 14 2014 - 15:36

Hull have agreed a fee with West Brom to sign striker Shane Long, according to owner Assem Allam.

Hull, who are also due to complete a move for Everton’s Nikica Jelavic, have yet to agree personal terms with the Republic of Ireland international but are expected to offer a lucrative three-year contract.

“We have agreed terms,” Allam said this afternoon. “It is a matter of getting the club to release and the player to agree.”.

Nikica Jelavic, who looks set to complete his move to Hull later today. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.
Nikica Jelavic, who looks set to complete his move to Hull later today. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Wire.

Long, whose contract with West Brom expires at the end of this season, has maintained he is happy to spend the rest of the season at the Hawthorns but admitted the decision could be taken out of his hands.

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The 26-year-old has been at The Hawthorns since joining from Reading in what was a club-record deal in August 2011.

His time at Albion looked to be up in September when the club agreed a deal with Hull, only for the transfer-deadline day move to collapse. Steve Bruce’s side have always remained keen on the Ireland international, who was keen to play down any talk of a January departure despite his contract running out at the end of the season. “All I know is that there are plenty of rumours.

“It’s business at the end of the day and we’ve got a lot of options up front. If they do want to let me go we’ll deal with that hurdle when it comes, or if it comes.

“But at the moment I’m a West Brom player and that’s all I’m concentrating on. I have always said I’m happy and settled here and I’ve got family who like living in the area.

“We will see what happens and what clubs come in and whether it’s a good prospect for me. If West Brom want me to stay that’s probably what I’ll do.

“But I suppose if a club doesn’t want you, what’s the point in staying? I’ve heard nothing. In the transfer window you’re going to hear rumours but no-one has said anything to me so I’m concentrating on playing football.”

Allam, meanwhile, has hailed the capture of Jelavic as “our biggest ever signing”. The 28-year-old Jelavic is finalising his move to the KC Stadium after publicly declaring his desire to join the Tigers from Everton, where he has rarely figured in new boss Roberto Martinez’s first-team plans.

Allam told Sky Sports News: “He (Jelavic) will sign today — our biggest ever signing. The club is moving forward. We are paying a lot of money for first-class players.”