West Brom closing in on record Long deal

West Brom are poised to smash their transfer record to sign Reading striker Shane Long.

The Baggies have held talks with Long's advisors over the weekend and are close to agreeing a fee of between 6 million and 7m. It would surpass the 4.7m Albion paid Real Mallorca for Spanish midfielder Borja Valero three years ago.

West Brom's desire for a new striker is even more pressing as last season's leading scorer, Peter Odemwingie, is battling to overcome an ankle problem.

Albion head coach Roy Hodgson is hoping to sign Long in time for Sunday's Barclays Premier League opener with Manchester United at the Hawthorns. It will be the first monetary outlay of the summer by West Brom after Gareth McAuley, Zoltan Gera and Billy Jones arrived on Bosman free transfers and Ben Foster joined on loan from Birmingham.

Hodgson has been pursuing Long all summer after the 24-year-old scored 25 goals last season for Reading.

Meanwhile, Oldham manager Paul Dickov has strengthened his squad with the capture of Peterborough midfielder James Wesolowski on a one-year deal. The 23-year-old, who has been capped by Australia at under-20 level and had spells at Dundee United and Hamilton Accies, joins the Latics after his contract at Posh, which ran to June 2012, was terminated. Dickov played alongside Wesolowski at Leicester.