Reading Director of Football Operations, Mark Bowen, has confirmed that former Royals striker Shane Long is a potential target for the upcoming season.

The 35-year-old looks set to depart Premier League side Southampton after eight years on the South-Coast, and the Republic of Ireland international has been rumoured to make a Reading return from the moment he left the club in 2011.

Arriving in Berkshire as a raw teenager in 2005, he made more than 200 appearances in RG2 before joining West Brom and going on to play for the likes of Hull City and Bournemouth.

Speaking to the media ahead of the opening pre-season match, newly returned Bowen confirmed that Long was the subject of interest from Paul Ince and the staff.

"They are players we have looked at and continue to look at," he started. "It's in that complicated process - are they suitable for us as players first and foremost, are they suitable financially and it might come down to one or two players but they are players we are looking at at the moment."

Another striking target was thought to be former Watford forward Andre Gray, however recent reports suggest he has chosen to join Greek club Aris Thessaloniki.