RH identifies 'major' signings

Published Jul. 18, 2011 3:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Baggies boss has already added right-back Billy Jones and centre-back Gareth McAuley to his playing pool this summer, with Zoltan Gera set to join on a free transfer and talks also planned with Owen Hargreaves. But the two players Hodgson has pinpointed are likely to be big-money captures, with West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green and Reading striker Shane Long high on the Albion chief's wish-list. Albion need a new stopper following Scott Carson's move to Bursaspor earlier this month, and are looking for a new striker to partner last season's leading scorer Peter Odemwingie. The club's 11th-placed finish in the 2010-11 Premier League table means there is plenty of cash in the Albion coffers - and Hodgson admits he will leave the negotiations to supremo Peace and sporting director Dan Ashworth having told them his number one targets. The Royals are believed to want £8million - a fee that would smash Albion's club-record transfer mark of £4.7million - for star striker Long, while England international Green is likely to command a tag of around £3-4million. But Hodgson is not getting involved in money matters and said: "There are a couple of major targets that I have identified and would like to see the club sign. For me, it's the sooner the better on them. "I don't think we need an awful lot. We've got a big squad and decent squad, but there a couple of players I think could be really important for us and make a major difference. "The club know who they are - the chairman knows and Dan knows - and hopefully they will be working on that. "I can't say whether I'm confident because I don't control the club and I don't control the purse strings. "But I have made it very clear to the chairman and to Dan the ones I think would undoubtedly make us stronger. "Now it's up to them to decide whether that is a possibility for the club or not," he added in the Express & Star.