According to Newcastle United striker Daryl Murphy, Rafa Benitez has told him that the club will listen to offers for the Irishman this summer.
The 34-year-old scored 6 goals in 17 appearances last season, doing a ‘job’ in the side when called upon more often that not.
Following an interview yesterday, however, it is clear that Murphy has been told by Benitez that he is free to leave as the club prepare for life in the Premier League:
“Rafa is a top, top manager. He texted me after the Uruguay game to say well done”.
“I spoke to him last week about my future and he thanked me for what I had done and said they were going to listen to a few offers. I said ‘that’s fine”.
“I always knew I had been brought in there to do a specific job, to help the club get promoted. I had no illusions that I was going to be starting for Newcastle in the Premier League if we got up.”
“I have got another year left on my contract and I will go back there for pre-season and just look at my options.”
As Murphy alludes to, he was never going to be a player Benitez turned to in the Premier League, but his professionalism and reliability in the Championship has seen his signature justified this time last year.
With Newcastle also likely to sell fellow striker Aleksandar Mitrovic according to reports, Murphy may not be the only striker to leave St. James’ this summer, hence why Benitez is understood to be targeting TWO new strikers over the coming months.
Well done, mate. Great effort this season.
I hope you get the deal you want, whatever that may be.
RobFoster(Quote)