Reading manager Brian McDermott believes striker Shane Long belongs in the Premier League.
The 24-year old Republic of Ireland international has attracted plenty of interest this summer with West Ham United and the ambitious Leicester City on his trail.
McDermott made it clear that he feels Long should be playing in the top flight but stopped short of saying a proposed move to Leicester was on the cards.
"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.
"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."
