Town are reported to have begun talks with Sunderland regarding Daryl Murphy’s permanent move to Portman Road. Murphy has been on loan with the Blues since January, scoring six goals in 18 games.

Town boss Roy Keane is said to be keen to get the deal done quickly with other clubs believed to be interested in the 27-year-old Irish international.

Murphy is contracted to the Black Cats for another two years and is believed to earn in excess of £20,000-a-week, around double Town’s top wage. However, the clubs were believed to have agreed a fee of £1.5 million rising to £2.5 million last summer prior to his switch breaking down and it is likely that Sunderland would be willing to settle the former Waterford United man's contract given that he is very much out of Steve Bruce's plans.

The player himself is understood to be happy at Portman Road and keen to stay with the club where he previously spent time on trial in 2004/05 prior to joining Sunderland.

Meanwhile, Celtic and Coventry are the latest clubs to be linked with Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper, who is also said to be interesting Town, Derby, QPR and Leeds. The former Grays man is now claimed to be worth £2 million, a £1 million up on the value quoted in last week’s papers.

Photo: Action Images

Mark added 12:23 - Apr 26 I agree with the other comments really in that the signing of D.Murphy does not excite me much. He had the little spell of goals, which was fantastic, but has since looked very ordinary and by no means worth a big salary. The article indicates that Sunderland may pay up his contract. If they do and we get him for free of a nominal fee then he may be worth having, but no way he is worth £1.5 to £2.5M in my opinion.

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Bergholtblue added 12:32 - Apr 26 Murphy is a poor header of the ball, he does not run the channels after lost causes ( a criticism RK made of Pablo once) and his hold up play is average. Having said that he has scored regular goals so perhaps there is more to come from him. I think the deal needs to be a sensible one and it had better not involve a certain player going the other way!
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bennyblue added 12:53 - Apr 26 the only good murphy is one thats freshly poured in paddy the farmers
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bennyblue added 12:54 - Apr 26 or was that the arcadian
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TractorMan added 12:59 - Apr 26 I'd like to see us consider Fletcher of Burnley? I guess we could afford him and all just depends on whether Coyle would come back for him? Otherwise i'd rather have a hungry ambitious forward from this league or League 1 than someone on their way down such as Murphy.
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blueherts added 13:28 - Apr 26 agree - get a hungry one rather than one stepping down saw someone mention ebanks blake? why would he drop down a division? lambert , chopra , hooper , jackson
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arc added 13:38 - Apr 26 If available on a free (with an add-on for promotion maybe) and reduced wages, then yes. If they want a substantial fee, forget it.
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PimsNumber1 added 14:24 - Apr 26 The way i read phils article , sunderland will pay him off for 2 years i.e. they will make up what we offer and what he was on for the next two years . That way we offer him 10k but probably still have to pay 1-1.5 mill for him. On that basis he is just about worth a go but Im alarmed by his lack of interest 9 lloks like that ) in the last 10 games and no goals aswell , and he is keen to stay ! Well thats more laid back than edwards FFS . As for hooper someone said keane wants experience. well he has played in the ccc for 2 years and scored a few and is not that young (22). Looks a good predator and less of a gamble than jackton payner and austin really , who have done it in league 1 but not in the ccc. I think on balance I would rather see young hooper here than the experienced chopra on big wages and higher fee . Chopra has gone through a very barron spell lately.

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naa added 15:00 - Apr 26 jas0999: errr so you write Stead off for going 9-10 games without doing anything, which ignores all the message above which basically say that Murphy has gone 9-10 games without doing anything. So there is quite a comparison isn't there? Personally, I don't rate either player, but Stead is bound to be on much, much lower wages.
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naa added 15:02 - Apr 26 Oh and I don't think anyone here is using this to have a go at Roy (you're a bit obsessed with that I think). Murphy has been very, very average for us and has shown very little to suggest he is worth spending much money on. A useful squad player? Yes. Worthy of being our highest paid player? not even close. Maybe you're trying too hard to defend Roy when you don't need to.

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RRanger added 16:56 - Apr 26 If Cardiff don't get promoted I would prefer Whittingham to Chopra and what about Ambrose.Both Cardiff (if not Promoted) and Palace will have to sell some of their assets.JM didn't get the best out of Ambrose when he was on loan. He could play the John Wark role for us and be our 20 goal a season man. As far as Murphy is concerned, he is too one footed for me. Good defenders just make him shoot with his right foot which basically he just uses for standing!

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Mungo added 17:57 - Apr 26 I think Murphy is a bit expensive for what he offers and hasn't shown any real desire to come here (he snubbed us at least twice before coming on loan - can't really blame him for that, it's a big ask to ask someone to halve their salary, regardless of how inflated it is). Generally, I think there are going to be better options out there for both club and player and both parties should move on. Hooper looks the part but £2m might be a bit much. My choice would be Ishmael Miller from West Brom. We should also diversify with a couple of lower cost options...

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TractorRoyNo1 added 08:40 - Apr 27 ssscchimple - he's not a regular at wolves, is young, wants to play football - or put it another way 'for money' blueherts added 13:28 - Apr 26 saw someone mention ebanks blake? why would he drop down a division?
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TractorRoyNo1 added 08:46 - Apr 27 One other for the 'list'...Dave Kitson proven at this level.
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naa added 14:37 - Apr 27 TractorRoy: blake has only just gone up a division and has hardly played or scored so maybe he's out of his depth in the Prem.... Though admittedly I suspect he'd want to give it another shot next year to prove to himself he can do it
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