Waterford United have denied a report claiming that they have accepted an £80,000 bid from Sunderland for Town target Daryl Murphy. The Black Cats took Irish U21 international Murphy on trial last week with the Blues keen to sign him over the summer.

The Irish Eircom League side say that despite interest from Mick McCarthy, who watched the striker in action against University College Dublin a week ago, there has been no offer: "Waterford United would like to confirm that no deal has been reached on the transfer of striker Daryl Murphy to any club in the UK or elsewhere.

"While there has been interest expressed from the club, as well as from a number of other clubs, no firm offer has been made for the player nor has there been any contract drawn up for such a transfer in July."

Murphy has been on trial at Portman Road twice this season with manager Joe Royle stating his intention to sign the 22-year-old striker if he has the money in the summer, Waterford reportedly asking for £100,000.

Promotion would certainly give the Town boss the cash, while Darren Bent told TWTD in December that he is likely to move on in the close season if the Blues don't go up, a switch which would certainly bring in sufficient funds.

Town are likely to find themselves short of strikers in the summer with Pablo Couñago set to leave at the end of his contract and current loanee James Scowcroft not yet impressing enough to win a permanent deal.

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