Duo Claimed to Be Sunderland's Whitehead and Murphy
Thursday, 9th Jul 2009 08:51

Sunderland's Daryl Murphy and Dean Whitehead are the duo close to joining the Blues, according to national newspaper reports this morning. Manager Roy Keane revealed after Tuesday's game at Finn Harps that fees had been agreed for two players from the same club, one of them Irish.

Murphy and Whitehead have both been linked with the Blues throughout the summer, having played under Keane at the Stadium of Light.

Abingdon-born Whitehead, who was first linked with Town within days of Roy Keane taking over, started his career with Oxford United, joining Sunderland for £150,000 in the summer of 2004 after five seasons with the U's.

While with the Black Cats Whitehead, who skippered Keane's side on Wearside, has made 188 starts and 12 sub appearances, scoring 14 goals, and has won the Championship twice.

Happiest in central midfield, Whitehead, who is contracted to Sunderland until 2011, has also played at right-back.

Last summer, the 6ft tall player was linked with possible moves to Stoke City, Fulham and West Brom.

Like Whitehead, Murphy was also first linked with the Blues in April.

The 6ft 3in tall striker or left midfielder spent several spells on trial at Playford Road in the 2004/05 season when a Waterford United player before eventually deciding to join Mick McCarthy's Sunderland.

The 26-year-old, who had a spell on loan at Sheffield Wednesday in 2005, was a regular in Roy Keane's Black Cats side.

Murphy was with Luton as a youngster and was sent out on loan at Harrow Borough prior to returning to Ireland to play with hometown club Waterford in 2002.

Capped nine times by the Republic of Ireland without scoring, Murphy won six caps with the Ireland U21 side while playing in the League of Ireland.

Murphy, who is contracted until 2011, has made 65 starts and 52 sub appearances for Sunderland, scoring 14 goals.

Keane was expecting that the targeted duo would hold talks with Town yesterday or today and that if those signings were secured he would be looking for one more addition to his squad.

Meanwhile, Liam Trotter says he is hopeful of breaking into Roy Keane's Town side this season: "I definitely feel I can stake my claim. It feels like the manager doesn't have any pre-set views on anybody which means I have as good a chance as anybody else.

"I've just got to get my head down and focus on making the team for the first game of the season. And if I don't make that team, I'll be aiming for the next game and then the game after that.

"I feel I am a better player after my loan at Scunthorpe and will be just trying to get as many first team games as I can.Ã¢â‚¬Â

Elsewhere, former Town keeper Kelvin Davis has turned down his proposed move to West Ham to remain with Southampton. Davis has signed a three-year deal, preferring regular League One football to an understudy's role in the Premier League.

Photo: Action Images

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