Tipperary native Shane Long has now put pen to paper, to sign a three-and-a-half-year deal which could cost Hull a reported £7million.
Long was in Humberside recently to undergo a medical and to further discuss the final terms of his transfer, that previously had collapsed in August 2013.
It is unlikely Long will figure in Hull’s weekend expected encounter with Norwich at Carrow Road.
“The pressure now is on me to produce and to follow up Steve Bruce’s confidence in me. I’m excited, it seems like a good opportunity for me, and I just want to get out there now and play football.” said the Tipperary man. “I hope its money well spent for the club and it’s up to me to prove myself by scoring goals and I hope to do that sooner rather than later.” he continued.
West Brom’s new boss Pepe Mel confirmed he had been made aware of Long’s expected departure, before his own appointment and stressed that the club were capable of surviving without him. West Brom on the other hand may yet discover that his move turns out plain suicidal for their club, with regard to remaining in the Premier League. Looking back Long’s move was practically confirmed when West Brom, having accepted Hull’s initial advances last August, had failed to open talks with an option to extend Long’s deal for an extra year.
Despite that Long had featured regularly this season with West Brom and it now appears that a desire to free up money for their new manager may have been the true reason for the Tipperary man’s eventual exit.
Shane will collect an estimated £8m in wages over the course of this proposed three-and-a-half-year contract, moving the 26-year-old attacker into the £45,000 a week wage bracket, together with bonuses.
Long will now join a large Irish contingent of other Irish senior internationals at the club such as; Robbie Brady, Stephen Quinn, David Meyler, Paul McShane and U-21 international Conor Henderson.
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