Town Closing in on Murphy - Ipswich Town News
Town are closing in on the permanent signing of loanee frontman Daryl Murphy, according to reports in Scotland. Despite Blues boss Paul Jewell playing down the chances of the Celtic frontman returning to Portman Road on a permanent basis next season, chief executive Simon Clegg hinted that a deal could still be done when speaking to TWTD a fortnight ago.
The Bhoys are believed to want a fee of £300,000 for the Irish international striker or midfielder, who was on loan with Town for the second time this season, having previously been at Portman Road in 2010 when a Sunderland player.
Murphy, who had trials with the Blues in 2004/05 before opting to join the Premier League Black Cats from hometown club Waterford at the end of that season, made 32 starts and two sub appearances during 2011/12, scoring four goals.
Sources close to Murphy have told TWTD that the 29-year-old and his wife are keen to stay in Suffolk with their children settled at a local school.
Murphy, who has another year left on his Celtic deal, is likely to have to take a significant pay cut to return to Portman Road.
Photo: Action Images
What to read next:
McKenna: Rectify the Errors and Show the Positives at WatfordBlues boss Kieran McKenna is looking for his side to iron out the mistakes which led to the weekend defeat at Wrexham, while showing some of the pluses from that performance when they travel to take on Watford in their fourth successive away game on Tuesday evening.
Davis: That's Not Our GameTown defender Leif Davis says he fully understands supporters’ frustrations after the Blues lost further ground on the Championship’s top two following a 5-3 defeat to Wrexham on Saturday.
Wrexham 5-3 Ipswich Town - Match ReportTown tasted defeat at the Racecourse Ground for the second time in eight days as they were defeated 5-3 by Wrexham having been 3-2 in front. The Blues went behind twice in the first half to goals from ex-Blues striker Kieffer Moore and Josh Windass, but Anis Mehmeti and Ivan Azon levelled to make the scoreline 2-2 at half-time. Cedric Kipre smashed a brilliant strike to make it 3-2 soon after the break but George Thomason, Callum Doyle and ex-Town forward Nathan Broadhead netted without reply to take the points for the Red Dragons.