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

Keaneish added 17:52 - Aug 26 Murphy and Gayle would be a good partnership. Looks like Benitez is thinking the right way, get Murphy's strength to feed pace, agility and someone with an eye for goal. Be sad to see him go but can't argue with it if we get good cash for him. Not been firing at 100% for a while so maybe its time? What will Mick do? Interesting one.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:52 - Aug 26 How old is Ibrahimavich?
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sidtheswan added 17:58 - Aug 26 Love Murph . Don't go .
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grubbyoik added 18:00 - Aug 26 If there is any chance of us getting Armstrong permanently,then the deal must be done.. If that deal involves Murphy then so be it.. It would force McCarthy to change our style of play with no punt it to target man to aim for.. Come on Alun have a word with your son!
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StowTractorBoy added 18:04 - Aug 26 Lets face it Murphy is never going to reach the heights of a couple of seasons ago and is no spring chicken so for a decent fee I would sell. Stand in his way now and what will his attitude be after the transfer deadline with the loss of a big pay day. He has done his bit for ITFC and I wish him well but this opportunity to sell at the right fee is too good to miss. Good luck Murph and thanks for your efforts. See you at St James in October. MM now go and get Kightley and Best and another tall target man.

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Popeye added 18:07 - Aug 26 Is jon walters available?
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manualthetisfanclub added 18:07 - Aug 26 Don't think this will happen tbh, Murphy never been really tempted to move away, doesn't seems he is money driven, his family settled in the area.Considering all the Middlesbrough speculation last summer,he went and signed another contract! What's changed?
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manualthetisfanclub added 18:10 - Aug 26 As for this Armstrong link...... Complete tosh, if he came it would only be another pointless loan! I hate loan signings! Would rather use our own young uns then loans!
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essextractorboy93 added 18:14 - Aug 26 Definitely not going anywhere. Wouldn't sell for anything less than 5 million
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Fixed_It added 18:20 - Aug 26 Love Murphy but one other consideration mentioned - he''s not going to last the season without very careful handling having played in the Euros. Maybe time to cash in.
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grumpyoldman added 18:24 - Aug 26 If we sold him who would Chambers punt the ball up to, it would mean a change in tactics, sell him quick
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grumpyoldman added 18:26 - Aug 26 If we sold him who would Chambers punt the ball to, would mean a change in tactics, sell him quick, one good season then back to his normal self
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tractorboybig added 18:29 - Aug 26 quiet a few village idiots on here, Sell our best player, cash in and buy a top replacement??????? we can only get old has beens, sell murphy and it shows that this set up has no intention of success.
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Pilgrimblue added 18:31 - Aug 26 Should have cashed in last year so anything above 2 mill would be good business. He's injury prone and has lost a yard of pace. Pitman is younger and with Freddie could develop into good partnership. There's plenty of young strikers in premiership that aren't getting regular games.
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RobTheMonk added 18:39 - Aug 26 Could be a really good payday for Murph. I don't want to see him go but good money for a 33 year old (2-4 million?) IF given to Mick to go and get some decent players (ala Grant Ward) could be the way to go...
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Tractamatt added 18:39 - Aug 26 Think he has been a true blue during his time here but no one on this website is going to influence any decisions made by MM & Co so if he foes leave use any money available to BUY Williams from Palace. I know he played the other day and had a good Euro's but they would have Evan's arm of for 3.5-4 mil and we would be looking at top 6 no problem. One problem would be keeping him fit and personally I hope Murphy stays

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blues1 added 18:44 - Aug 26 Personally if they offered 2mill + I'd snap their hands off. I agree we'd miss his hold up play but as long as we can get some1 else in who can do that job and hopefully score goals, which Murphy isn't would be right thing. It won't be Armstrong tho, unless a loan as he signed a new 4 year deal today
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Swn98 added 18:46 - Aug 26 Let's look at it objectively Is he a good player Yes is he likely to score 15 plus goals this season no. Does he encourage our sometimes one dimensional football yes. Is he going to improve at his age no. 2-3 million pound you've got to take it.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 18:50 - Aug 26 Murphy was excellent at the Euros, showed that as a target man he is genuine international class, and when a team is under pressure, having Murph up front means the opposition always have to keep a couple of defenders back, he is very dangerous in that role. I dont think we will see him get 20+ goals a season any more, but if Newcastle want a great target man for a couple more seasons, then Murph is worth £5m. Just have to insist that the club use it to get a goalscorer.

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timkatieadamitfc added 18:55 - Aug 26 I like Murphy but I would sell at this point,there is no way we are getting Armstrong permanent but a season long loan may sway it. One goal(penalty) from our forwards this season says it all. For me we change the way we play completely, keep the ball on the ground and play Sears and pitman as our main strikers(they both should score goals for fun if played in the right position in this league,then sign Bradley dack

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Bluesaway added 19:01 - Aug 26 Whilst Murphy gives us one of the best as a target man in the division, Pitman has a great scoring record at this level and alongside Sears or McGoldrick would introduce a more appealing style to our game. The main challenge for our strikers - other than Murphy - is supply as we rely too heavily on long hopeful balls forwards which doesn't play to the strength of the rest who need the ball at their feet or to run on to. Ward is potentially a game changer for us in this department, giving an outlet and creativity to play our strikers in. If we could also have someone coming late into the box behind the strikers to contribute 10 or more a season we'd be entertaining and might threaten the top six this year. However, we'd have to change our style and play with more pace and guile.

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foster added 19:02 - Aug 26 Armstrong in on loan and then Clayton Donaldson in to replace Murphy
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Orraman added 19:07 - Aug 26 This has to be a NO from me. No matter how much Newcastle would pay none of it would filter through to new signings and certainly not in time for the window closing. Why would Newcastle with all their millions chase after someone who most people on here seem to think is past his best. There is much more to Murph's game than goals. He bullies and panics defenders. The 7.5 million Klose did not get a kick on Sunday. The way Murph brings a ball down from the sky, controls it and retains it is a special skill much in evidence last Sunday and as Grumpyold man has stated, what would happen to Chambers hoofballs? They would come back quicker than an Andy Murray return of service putting us back under pressure time and time again.

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blues1 added 19:13 - Aug 26 JAS0999. How would selling a 33 yr old for let's say £2m show a lack of ambition. I'll bet u now if we signed a 33yr old for that amount ud be saying we were lacking ambition for signing a player that age. Somewhat hypocritical I think.
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Swn98 added 19:14 - Aug 26 Um perhaps Chambers would have to learn new tactics! Whilst I do agree it's what Murphy does off the ball that contributes a lot at 33 he can't go full on at it all season plus internationals so if the price is right I regretfully have to say let him go.
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