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

runaround added 21:46 - Aug 26 The time might be right to sell him but it needs to be at least £5m & only allowed to go through provided we can get replacements in before window shuts
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Steelmonkey added 21:47 - Aug 26 As the team stands he's a vital piece of our play, but the question of replacing him is not going to go away. His age is now against him, do we let him see out his contract and end up getting nowt for him or do we take the money with a possibility of a promising youngster as part of the deal joining us. What is clear is that any money we get has to be used on a replacement, and if he does go a talented midfielder is still needed to replace the likes of Douglas and possibley Skuse. I seriously doubt that MM has the talent to change our style of play, so another target man will be sought after, and as others have said if there was a younger Murphy type player out there Newcastle would have got him. What Benitez will get is a player who he doesn't have tke a chance on, they don't need a out and out goal scorer just someone to provide chances to the ones that he has.

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blues1 added 21:52 - Aug 26 £5m? Who are people trying to kid? He's not worth more than £3m. And that's stretching it. A c.f. needs to score 20+ goals year on year out to be worth new here near £5m. We had our chance to get near that figure last year. Can't see that happening again. So if we reject say £2m now What is he likely to be worth this time next year? Peanuts is my guess
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Steelmonkey added 21:52 - Aug 26 Let's see what Murphys reaction is at full time tomorrow, if indeed it is his last game.
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blooo added 21:58 - Aug 26 Newcastle want him and they have millions to get who they want so why don't we want him ?? Keep him for me
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Cloddyseedbed added 22:07 - Aug 26 I say sell him it makes sense with his age.............but! We will only replace him with a crap striker from poundland. Sorry but lost all the faith in owner and management with making do. We are not progressing. Leon Best, I don't think so, is that really where we are? Murphy is the best striker we have on the books at present, what does that say about us?
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Kingfisher49 added 22:09 - Aug 26 Hopefully Murphy wont go as he is our main threat both physically and with his goals. But perhaps David Nugent might be a sensible target, he loves scoring against ITFC so maybe he can score for us instead. And experienced as MM is suggesting.
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kingy4978 added 22:15 - Aug 26 If the money is right then I'd say let him go. Try and get either nugent or Rhodes on loan to replace him.
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Warkys_Tash added 22:23 - Aug 26 No Canaries Alllowed - Spot on! Everyone says 'sell, sell, sell' But aren't Newcastle meant to win the league this year? Haven't they also spent £45M in the summer? So surely if they are in for Murph then he still must be the bis? And if they are coming in for Murph at 33 then it proves his style of play is hard to find. He is a nitemare to play against and to get out of this league you definitely need a battering ram - Keep him please! He will score lots more again if Mac G ever gets fit again!

2

itfcbam added 22:25 - Aug 26 Think what is underestimated and not mentioned is the wishes of the player. Let's face it, the financial firepower of Newcastle will mean a substantial pay rise at the back end of his career which will be a massive factor. Even just 3k a week over 2 years will be 300k. Would be loss if he goes but we have to face facts and we can't compete financially. Let's hope that MM will get some of the money and it doesn't go towards covering our operating losses.

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DirtyOldNodger added 22:54 - Aug 26 If an offer comes in for him, and if Newcastle can offer him good terms then he should go for it. Be sad to see him go but it would be a good bit of business for the club and Murph. Jordan Rhodes on loan would be ace, and a bit more realistic.
4

ArnieM added 23:50 - Aug 26 get a like for like ( but far younger) replacement it's still no brianer. Muhoh's best days are behind him now. He's not sure prolific goal score, never has been. Cash in bug get Armstrong.
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JimInGreensboro added 02:22 - Aug 27 Didz injured and Murph out would leave us awfully thin up front.
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trncbluearmy added 02:38 - Aug 27 If it's a half decent fee take it Lost a yard of pace,lucky to get 10 goals out of him this season
1

BlueMachines added 06:17 - Aug 27 @ Legendofthepheonix. Genuine international class? Remember the guy is a striker. How many international goals?
1

WorcesterBlue added 07:27 - Aug 27 Couple of mentions on here of Bradley Dack and I'd agree. If we can get serious money for Murph and bring in someone like Dack and poss Nugent on loan then this might be a good move. Otherwise keep him - best of that style of play in Chanpionship.
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SpiritOfJohn added 07:30 - Aug 27 Murph has been brilliant for Ipswich. Hope that he wants to stay but good luck to him if he wants to leave. Not impressed with Newcastle's timing. Any fee should include a significant add-on in the event of promotion. The last-placed team in the Premier this season will get around £100 million from the TV deal so £2 million is peanuts for a player who would go straight into the first 11 of any team in the Championship regardless of age.

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WorcesterBlue added 08:27 - Aug 27 Or Wickham on loan - surplus to requirements at Palace and a similar style of play? Maybe Mich could reinvigorate his career?
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pragmatic added 08:38 - Aug 27 Replacement first @ in today's tranfer fees £15 mill!! No less
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ip5w1ch added 08:45 - Aug 27 Fame at last Phil you made it on to BBC sport's gossip page http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/gossip Not sure where they plucked £5m from.
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LegendofthePhoenix added 08:52 - Aug 27 Bluemachines and Blues 1 - Yes, if you watched teh Euros, it was plain to see, Murph transformed Ireland, they got to the quarterfinals which they wouldnt have done. Murph is not about scoring goals himself, despite the incredible season in 14/15. If you regard him as a striker, and think that a striker should score 20+ goals then you would be almost right. But that isn't his role - he's a target man, and target men usually don't score prolifically themselves. What it does is enable the team to play in a different way, especially when under pressure from strong opposition, then a hoofball up to the target man, a layoff to a midfielder and bang 1-0.

1

GiveusaWave added 09:16 - Aug 27 Armstrong is a very different kind of striker. Murphy is an essential player given our style of football and unless they are offering something ludicrous for him (like 4 million plus Armstrong) we should not be thinking of selling him. Newcastle want him for a very good reason and that is that he is a very good player at this level. He had a very good game against Norwich and always causes problems to opposition defenders. A HUGE no unless they offer something which is impossible to ignore.

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Brownie added 09:46 - Aug 27 Big fan but think we might have seen the best of him. No point selling though unless we have replacement - if that is Best and money in the bank then don't sell him. Best will be good back up but not first choice. And ME doesn't need the money he has plenty. Like the look of Armstrong though - another young,hungry player with point to prove.
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carlo88 added 09:47 - Aug 27 Go for it. We've seen the best of him.
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BlueNomad added 09:50 - Aug 27 He is vital to us and we will struggle if he goes. However, Matt Ritchie joined them from a Premiership club in the summer and I understand they doubled his wages. If Murph wants to go then good luck to him.
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