The Irish Examiner are reporting that Newcastle have made a €100,000 bid for Galway United’s exciting 17-year-old Centre Back Alex Murphy amid interest from several other senior teams.
This could be another example of how the ‘new’ look regime is casting it’s net far and wide.
The 17-year-old who has been capped three times for the Republic’s Under-18 international side is said to be one of the most promising players to ever appear in first team football at such a young age in Ireland.
He signed his first professional contract at Galway in August last year after making his debut against Athlone Town as a 16-year-old last season. He turned 17 in June last season and combined that league debut by being selected for the Under-18 Republic side.
Making his debut against Hungary the left wing/centre back also played against Sweden and then was made Captain in his third outing scoring a goal in a 7 – 1 victory over Malta. He’s also been on standby for the Under-21 squad.
West Bromwich Albion are also said to be interested in a player that has had a trial at Brighton and shunned Irish Champions Shamrock Rovers. He preferred to stay with his hometown Club to gain experience in the first team although virtually all pundits are tipping him for bigger things.
Under Brexit rules Murphy is not allowed to move abroad until his 18th birthday in June but it seems inevitable that he will move on to higher levels as soon as he can. NUFC may well have jumped ahead of the queue with their bid and it’ll be an interesting one to follow in the future.
