Forest set to make cheeky bid for Long

Nottingham Forest are prepared to smash their wage structure to lure Ireland striker Shane Long from the Premier League during next month’s transfer window.

With talks to extend Long’s West Bromwich Albion contract stalled, the Baggies risk losing the forward for nothing in the summer when his current deal lapses.

Forest lie seventh in the Championship and need firepower to boost their promotion bid. Owner Fawaz Al Hasawi sanctioned failed multi-million euro bids for strikers Charlie Austin and Gary Hooper in recent months.

Ambitious Forest are now set to try compensate Long’s drop down a division by almost doubling his weekly salary to €45,000.

The Tipperary man, however, could have plenty of options in January, with Everton, Stoke and Newcastle all willing to compete with Forest for his services.

Meanwhile former West Brom manager Ron Atkinson believes the club have to find someone with Premier League experience to replace sacked Steve Clarke.

“They need to look for somebody with experience in the Premier League, but there isn’t anyone obvious that jumps out.

“Alex McLeish still lives locally and has a fair bit of experience of fighting fires but other than that nobody springs to mind. It is really tough to say who they will go for now.”