Jacob Murphy is set to be handed a new contract to fend off interest from other clubs, according to Football Insider.
The winger has had somewhat of a resurgence at NUFC after initially struggling to come to grips with the Premier League. Dropping down the Championship on loan has benefitted him tenfold and reignited the confidence that made Rafa Benitez spend £12m on him back in 2017.
However, his contract is set to expire at the end of the season and Football Insider claim that the likes of of Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke and Nottingham Forest have shown interest over a potential ‘pre-contract agreement’ in January or cut-price deal.
His best moment in a Toon shirt came last month when he fired in a late free kick to rescue a point against Wolves – a game which saw Murphy play in the unfamiliar role of right wing-back.
He struggled in a more advanced role in last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea, but it seems Bruce is keen to tie him down to a new deal – either because he’s part of his first-team plans or he’s keen to protect his value ahead of a future sale!
Either way, it would be awful business to lose him on a free next summer, so a new deal makes sense moving forward.
It is up to Lee Charnley to get him tied down because a player of his age shouldn’t be able to leave on a free, especially as we paid £12m for him. He is certainly replaceable, but he may be able to provide cover out wide if any of our first choice starters are injured.
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