Shane Long is Premier quality – McDermott

Albion target Shane Long is ready to make the step up to the Premier League, according to Reading boss Brian McDermott.

The Royals manager believes top-flight clubs should take a chance on the Irishman after stories claimed Leicester are ready to join fellow Championship side West Ham in the race for his signature.

And McDermott confirmed the Foxes have not bid for the 24-year-old but Walkers Stadium officials have enquired about Long, who is on the Baggies' summer wanted list.

"We had contact from Leicester very early on in the summer but we've had no £7.5m e-mail drop on our doorstep at all," said McDermott, responding to stories of a bid from the East Midlands.

"For me, as a manager, Shane Long belongs in the Premier League and we were inches away from the Premier League last year.

"If a Championship club like Leicester offer that kind of money it will be up to the board to make a decision.

"My view on Shane Long is he is a Premier League player and I would sign him for any Premier League team I was involved in. We've got a decent squad here and I don't want to lose Shane Long, but in my opinion he is a Premier League player who deserves to be playing in the Premier League. We have a number of players here who I think could play in the Premier League but we haven't had a bid from Leicester."

And McDermott believes he could be powerless to keep Long if Albion or another top-flight club follow up their interest with a bid. Newcastle are also interested in the Ireland international, who scored 24 goals last season, although the newly-relegated Hammers are the only club to make a bid so far.