Reading link with Long "quite new", says Stam

Reading manager Jaap Stam says speculation linking the Royals with a move for Southampton striker Shane Long is "quite new" to him.

Long made 19 starts for Southampton across four competitions last season, but new manager Mauricio Pellegrino selected him on the bench for Saturday's Premier League opener against Swansea City on Saturday.

The 71-time capped Ireland international fell down the pecking order at St Mary's last term under then-manager Claude Puel, following the January transfer window signing of Italy international Manolo Gabbiadini from Napoli.

The 30-year-old has since been linked with a move back to his former club Reading, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League last season after losing the play-off final to Huddersfield.

The Tipperary-born forward scored 54 goals in 200 appearances for Reading between 2005 and 2011 before signing for West Brom in a £6m deal in January 2011.

Royals' boss Jaap Stam says he is still keen to bring in new faces ahead of the 31 August transfer deadline, but Long is not one of the players under consideration.

"We are still looking for players, we are still looking for a striker, a midfield player and an extra defender" Stam told BBC Radio Berkshire.

"I am not sure if that will happen, but that is my ideal scenario. You need to have a lot of players to get through the season and keep performing."

But when asked whether Reading are interested Ireland striker Long, who started his career in England at the Madejski Stadium, Stam replied: "That is quite new [to me], to be honest."

Image: Getty Images/ Michael Steele

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