Newcastle United are keen to sign Town striker Daryl Murphy before the transfer window closes on Wednesday, TWTD understands.

Murphy, 33, was first linked with the Magpies in July, reports the Irish international subsequently dismissed as speculation.

However, we understand that the North-East club are now showing strong interest in the Waterford-born frontman, who signed a two-year contract with an option for a further season with the Blues last summer.

Town would be looking for a significant fee for one of their key players, despite Murphy’s age, and would want to add a direct replacement for their number nine before Wednesday’s deadline with Championship clubs now no longer able to sign players on emergency loans.

We understand that the Blues have shown interest in taking 19-year-old Newcastle youngster Adam Armstrong on loan, however, the 5ft 8in tall striker, who scored 20 goals in 38 starts and two sub appearances while on loan in League One with Coventry last season, is not a similar player to Murphy and has played only a few minutes of football at Championship level.

Speaking yesterday Town boss Mick McCarthy said he was looking to add players with Championship experience as he feels his squad already includes a number of more youthful players.

Murphy, whose first English club was Newcastle's great rivals Sunderland, initially joined the Blues for the first of three loan spells under Roy Keane's management in 2010 before signing permanently from Celtic in the summer of 2013.

In the 2014/15 campaign he topped the Championship scoring charts with 27 goals as the Blues reached the play-offs.

Last season the 23-times-capped Republic of Ireland striker netted a more modest 10 in an injury-affected campaign and he is yet to get off the mark this season, having had what looked to be a perfectly good goal ruled out at Wolves.

In total, Murphy has scored 67 goals in 207 starts and 18 substitute appearances for Town.

As things stand at present, we understand that Murphy is in the Town squad for Saturday’s home game against Preston.

Photo: TWTD

hampstead_blue added 17:19 - Aug 26 Cash in but he would be a massive loss. Probably one of our best players over the past few years.
13

ScottCandage added 17:20 - Aug 26 Where there's smoke, there's fire... Would be a loss, but let's see who we could get in to replace him.
2

12th_Man added 17:25 - Aug 26 Please no
3

fallyblue added 17:25 - Aug 26 Would swap or part of a deal for Armstrong. Let's continue to build on a young squad that we have in the making.
6

planetblue_2011 added 17:27 - Aug 26 I do like Murphy a lot he's been a great player for us & against Norwich he worked his socks off, but now we should cash in on him & get a younger striker who can score goals, it's not happening with our strikers at the moment. It's our 5th league game tomorrow we've only scored 5 goals, 3 of them coming from Ward!! This could be an interesting transfer window leading up to Wednesday.

6

rodney added 17:27 - Aug 26 Wouldn't mind Newcastle signing him, but only if we sign a good quality replacement proven at at least championship level (i.e. not Leon Best). Any thoughts on who anyone?
6

prebbs007 added 17:28 - Aug 26 For the right fee we MUST sell. He is 33 well past his best, will never repeat what he did 2 seasons ago. Does not score or create enough and we will never have a chance to get a sizeable fee for him again. As long as we can bring in a suitable replacement, Newcastle are desperate and will pay well over the top. Let me know when you've packed your boot Murph and I will drive you up there. We can get much better than him. Do the deals Evans.

6

Fat_Boy_Tim added 17:30 - Aug 26 What and play 2 games against him this season? He's an f'ing nightmare to play against, I don't fancy that at all. The part he played in the goal against Nodge should make it clear enough that we can't pop out and get an easy replacement and that he's actually playing well despite not scoring yet.
8

ParisBlue added 17:34 - Aug 26 Cash + Armstrong hopefully....
13

ipswichdave added 17:34 - Aug 26 There really could be something in this, he came out late for training this morning
2

NoCanariesAllowed added 17:34 - Aug 26 I worry about how we cope without Murphy's hold up play. Everyone goes 'sell sell sell' the instant there's a whiff of money for a 33-year-old just because he didn't score 27 goals again last season. Bearing in mind we're already without McGoldrick, a strikeforce of Freddie Sears, Brett Pitman and Leon Best (if he signs) is not going to cut it anyway. Absolute no for me unless there is a replacement tied up. And I don't just mean another striker, I mean one with Murphy's attributes.

22

shortmarine1969 added 17:35 - Aug 26 I like Murph,s and i think he overall work is very under rated, but i must be honest if offered a couple of million (2 or more) i would take it ....as long as MM gets the whole lot to buy a decent up and coming striker. This does not include Best who is a stop gap at best. To sell him and for MM not to get all the money , then it,s a no from me as we base our game around him. Sad to say if we do sell i have no faith at all MM will get the (all) money.

8

iaintaylorx added 17:37 - Aug 26 Tough one, as I really do like Murph, but he is 33 now and not getting any younger. If we could do a deal involving a good cash amount or money plus Armstrong or something like that, I think I would take it. We need a played who can hold the ball up though and Murph is one of the best in the division for that! Really tough one. £3M and I say take it!
8

Pip50 added 17:40 - Aug 26 What stupid comments if another younger scoring striker was out there Newcastle would be going for him with their purchasing power. Sell him and all we will do is fill the void with a lesser player. Progress don't make me laugh.
7

irishtim added 17:41 - Aug 26 3 million plus armstrong otherwise buzz off.
3

Sparky85 added 17:42 - Aug 26 Sold house and taken his kids out of school so I've heard today. Good luck to him. One season in the championship and then I hope he gets a shot at the big time. Deserves it after being a very loyal servant to us. A cash plus Armstrong deal would be great for all parties
5

Seasider added 17:44 - Aug 26 Has been a great servant to Town,and is settled in the area;so presume cannot be forced to move. However at 33 is the second oldest player on the books,and if a player exchange is on for Armstrong,plus hopefully some cash,then it should be a no brainer. Re worries about him playing well against us this season,could a clause not be inserted into the deal,which just for this season prevents him from playing against us;I am not sure?

5

Fat_Boy_Tim added 17:44 - Aug 26 Balls Sparky!
0

ipswichben added 17:44 - Aug 26 Simple answer, DO NOT SELL. This is a sellers market so we would get a decent fee for a 33 year old however there will be no one out there at a price we can afford who can offer us anything like the all round game Murph offers even at his age. We should build our attacks around his hold up play. The best way to emphasise this is to point out without him we would have an ageing Pitman and Varney, plus no goal in 31 games Sears. Hold on to what we've got please, we won't do better!

0

Fat_Boy_Tim added 17:45 - Aug 26 I don't think that clause is allowed outside of loans Seasider.
1

stevieiriswattii added 17:47 - Aug 26 Sell Murphy and change the way we play. We do have this other striker, called Freddie Sears. Play him up front, with Grant & Ward on the wings & 3 in the middle. Also buy a replacement.
10

SheptonMalletBlue added 17:48 - Aug 26 Cash in, he's past his best!!
3

IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:51 - Aug 26 I don't think Mmc would want to let him go, he is exactly the sort of player he loves. I would be sorry to see him go ,he had two seasons worth of luck in front of goal in one season, I think he is due a 15-18 goal season, he has it in him and he is a nightmare to play against.
3

jas0999 added 17:51 - Aug 26 Would show a complete lack of ambition. The only way he should be sold, is if every last penny of the fee is reinvested in new players. It won't happen. Fans should not accept the money spent on wages routine nor already spent on fees for Webster and Ward. We should be spending fees in any event plus more players have left than signed. Big test for the club this. If he goes and other players - and I'm not talking cheap freebies - are not signed then I really can't see the stay away fans returning. If anything I can see folk cancelling their DD payments!!

-3

Pessimistic added 17:51 - Aug 26 He has performed well for us over the years but time is surely against him now and we need fresh blood in our attack .
6

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