Town are reported to have turned down a £4.5 million offer from Middlesbrough for striker Daryl Murphy.

According to the Irish Independent, the Blues have rebuffed the bid, which was first reported in the Irish Sun this morning, with Boro said to have had an earlier offer of around £4 million previously turned down.

Three weeks ago, the Irish Sun reported that Town had rejected a previous £2.5 million bid from the Teessiders for Murphy.

The 32-year-old Irish international has been the subject of much speculation since netting 27 goals during 2014/15 with clubs from both the Premier League and Championship reported to have shown interest and we understand Boro were amongst those to make an enquiry earlier in the summer.

Last week, Cardiff City were reported to have ended their pursuit of Murphy, Town having apparently quoted them a fee in excess of £4 million. West Brom are believed to be the most interested of the linked Premier League clubs.

Speaking yesterday, manager Mick McCarthy reiterated his intention to keep the Irish international at Portman Road: “We don’t want to sell Daryl Murphy, we don’t want to lose Daryl Murphy.

“He’s still on a break because he’s only had a couple of weeks [off since being away with Ireland]. That’s what I’ll be telling him, and his agent - we want to keep him.

“He was the outstanding striker in this league last season and it would be difficult to fill his boots. We’re going to try and keep him.”

Murphy, who previously played in the North-East with Sunderland, has said on a number of occasions he that he has no intention of leaving Town as he and his family are settled in Suffolk.

The Waterford-born frontman signed a new contract with Town last July, which has another year left to run with the Blues having an option to extend it for a further season.

Elsewhere, former Blues loanee Chris Wood, 23, has joined Leeds United from Leicester City, signing a four-year deal, the clubs having agreed a fee reported to be in the region of £2 million.

Photo: Action Images

itfcserbia added 13:47 - Jul 1 @TR11BLU - Leeds should be mugged, I thought they were under transfer embargo to begin with...
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Fatboy added 13:48 - Jul 1 Selling Murphy to a Premier League club is one thing, but selling him to a promotion rival would be foolish and MM is no fool.
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dude added 14:08 - Jul 1 I would snap their hand off and give it back to them with their money.
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TheGov added 14:12 - Jul 1 4.5 million for a 32 year old who had a flash in the pan last season! I can't see why we are not accepting this its silly money all it takes is one injury and he could miss half the season. Before you start flaming my post before last season would you have even considered murphy a major goalscorer?? I'd rather they take the money add it too the mings money so MM has 6 or 7 million to go out and snap up some young talented players who will help the club push on to the next level over the next few years.

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afrodids added 14:16 - Jul 1 Maybe they are bumping the price up for WBA to come in, like fatboy said selling to a prem club would be more suitable than to one of our rivals for promotion! Turn down boro for 4.5m west Brom come in with another million it's bye bye Murphy. I'd like Murphy to stay as it's not just his goals it's his attitude and generally working his nads off for the team however anything over 5m would be difficult to turn down after all everyone has a price.

2

GoldieBlue added 14:32 - Jul 1 Look at it this way, we will need Murphy this year if we want to go up. Who cares about the £4.5 million what about the £125 million when we get promoted.
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MeenoITFC added 14:42 - Jul 1 If now the money is not the main thing within a transfer discussion, keep him until we cant refuse. Murphy loves it here and it will take more than a nice house and a local boozer to change him
1

BlueandTruesince82 added 14:48 - Jul 1 As others have pointed out if you look at the goals he has scored in previous seasons his hes not the flash in the pan some make out. also you need to allow for the fact that under the dark lords he was shunted out on the wing and for a winger its not a bad record. Instead of assuming he's now past it one could argue that he is only now showing his true form and if we were to sell now we might do so just as Murph is at his peak. Will he get the same number next season? No probably not, but if he chips in with another 15 that's hardly a contribution to be sniffed at is it. Id only sell to a prem club, he brings more than goals, he holds the ball up, brings other players in, causes havoc during set pieces. If the fact that he might get injured is a reason ro sell, well that can happen to and therefore applies to every player.

8

daddyboob added 15:16 - Jul 1 I don't understand why people would want to let Murphy go, after reiterating the fact he is now settled in Suffolk / happy being at ITFC both being contributing factors as to why he felt he had such a great 14/15 season. I have my faith that he will once again produce a lot of goals for us. Either way it's not just goals that count, he has great hold up play, strength and aerial ability!

3

bohslegend added 15:33 - Jul 1 Right, Blue Movies added to my ignore list. Its actually a great option. Click his name and select ignore user.
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AndrewPC added 15:38 - Jul 1 After having had a great league season with Town and capping that with a reasonable performance up front for Ireland against England. Murphy at 32 will be sorely tempted to grab a last chance to play at the highest level in British club football should a Premiership club come calling That said, I hope he does not go. I agree with those posters here who emphasise that in addition to his goal-scoring capabilities it is also his overall strength and flair in leading the line that counts. But if the price is right and he says he wants to go, then go he should because there would be nothing worse than a disaffected senior player at the club.

1

blue_movies added 16:02 - Jul 1 could we find a ready made front man with 20 goals in him in the bargain bin, frees or loans? remember we don't do fees.
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kevtblue added 16:35 - Jul 1 Completely agree with those that have said you have to look at his overall game not only has he scored goals but he defends in all areas of the pitch when required. You don't get many strikers who have that sort of game these days and his physical presence is a constant threat to defenders. I also think that Freddie needs someone like Murphy to feed off and their understanding will only improve. Obviously hope he stays and I really cant see him going unless its to a PL team but you never know money talks.

3

Surco72 added 16:58 - Jul 1 If Murphy does want to leave , the money is good for his age but our system will need a target man , how about Carlton Cole released by West Ham ?
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Bluebongo added 17:51 - Jul 1 It will all come down to wages, if Middlesbrough were to offer him say 4or5 grand a week more, than Town,at 32 he would obviously move. however much he loves living down here.
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dude added 18:05 - Jul 1 He's settled here. If he doesn't get 20 goals this season, with the inevitable improved delivery from midfield, and a tighter squad than last year, I'd be surprised. IF we get promoted this year, we will be looking back at him as a key figure in the push. So what is it worth to have a happy, settled, mature player (not to mention an itfc legend, current top scorer in the Champ, etc.), who will be instrumental in our plans for promotion this year? Way more than 4.5m I say. Try 8m and we'll listen. All of you doubters, why do you want to cash in on the best chance we have to reach the premier league? Why???

1

jas0999 added 18:06 - Jul 1 If Murphy were to leave then make no mistake we would need a replacement. We need four strikers of the calibre that we currently have. As for Murphy, I still think he would move to a PL club or a side better placed to achieve promotion. Our first 11 is okay, but arguably missing more goals in midfield and defensive cover. We are still 9 players down on the team which finished last season. The squad was small then! Murphy knows that and may question whether we have the necessary strength to challenge. Selling Mings won't have helped, whilst Mick this morning was suggesting the current squad will be much the same at the beginning of the season. That would mean little strengthening or reinvesting into the team. That may force Murphys arm. As for people questioning where Boro and others have got their money from: it's obvious that few teams actually bother with FFP. Teams are ambitious, hungry for success and fully realise that to achieve that investing and paying fees for players is absolutely essential.

2

Pip50 added 18:29 - Jul 1 Can't believe we would sell outside really silly money. He scores regularly perhaps not always to last seasons standard. Rarely is he injured and fits our hoof ball tactics . Look for same price for McGoldrick he can't make a full season, Mick can then bring in some journeymen to see us through to mediocrity and Marcus can get his loan interest secured. LOL.
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titanicclown added 18:43 - Jul 1 I find it amazing that anyone thinks we should sell Murphy. In the style we play he's irreplaceable. Big, quick, good touch, intelligent, scores headers, tap ins and screamers. He's a hell of a player. I want top 2 next season which is worth a bit more than 4.5 mill. Turn all bids down - simple!
1

shiminywho added 18:57 - Jul 1 Smoggies can Foxtrot Oscar - desperate having lost Bamford and Vossen. Full season of Freddie playing off Daryl with Dids just behid? Mouthwatering prospect. He wants to stay - let him.
1

purplealien added 18:58 - Jul 1 If there was no realistic prospect of us being promoted next season I'd agree with those saying take the money. If we do go up and Murph plays a significant part in promotion the £4.5m will seem like small change; even if he never plays for us again. By the way: I worked out that our current front four scored over 70 goals between them last season (and McGoldrick was injured for half of it). Living in Brighton, I keep an eye on the Seagulls. Their current strikeforce (only 3 first teamers) scored a pathetic 16 last season!

1

mutters added 19:12 - Jul 1 If you recall, we had a £4.5 million offer for Matty Holland from Villa, we turned it down (Matty wanted to stay and help us get back into the premiership) and year later he went to Charlton for £800k.... Look i am not saying everybody should agree to sell him but in a years time, if we havent gone up then this will be a missed opportunity. Before the Boro bid i thought that any offer in excess of £3million would be a great deal for town, so at this price personally i'd sell. Murphy is a legend, he has done us proud, but in a world where financials are more and more in bedded into a clubs success its a lot of money for a player who could only have 2/3 years left. Less if an injury strikes. If he was 22 or 27 or even 30 i'd resist, but time catches up eventually....

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brendenward35 added 19:32 - Jul 1 Loads of people missing the partnership between Murphy and sears think a full season working together is going to be worth watching and why spoilt before its really begun. I can see Freddie scoring loads with a good strong midfield behind him and Murphy beside him.
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blueboy1981 added 19:52 - Jul 1 ....... if this is true - Murphy will not be a happy chappie.
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blueboy1981 added 19:55 - Jul 1 .......... why are people surprised about Clubs 'having money' - everyone has, except us - even little ol' Bournemouth. Wake up people - and smell the Coffee..... as it REALLY is.
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