Can I use "Would" instead of the infinitive?

"Would" is used after past reporting verbs where "will" was used in direct speech. This is contained in Practical English Usage (Michael Swan, OUP 1995, n° 604, indirect speech). Therefore, the two formulations can be used for the same purpose.

(PEU)
direct: Tomorrow will be fine.
indirect: The forecast said that the next day would be fine.

reporting verbs: resources for learning english