Newcastle United has made its stance on Jacob Murphy increasingly clear, rejecting another opportunity to cash in on the veteran winger despite his contract entering its final year.
Nottingham Forest pushed hard to sign Murphy during the closing stages of the transfer window, initially offering £10 million (€11.6 million) for the 31-year-old. Newcastle rejected that proposal, but Forest returned with significantly improved terms before Tuesday’s deadline.
According to The Daily Mail’s Craig Hope, Newcastle
rejected a second formal offer worth £15 million (€17.4 million), with new head coach Matthias Jaissle unwilling to lose Murphy from his squad.
“Newcastle rejected an offer of £15million for Jacob Murphy from Nottingham Forest,” Hope reported. “Matthias Jaissle does not want to lose the experienced winger, despite him being in the final year of his contract while an extension could now be negotiated.”
The decision is particularly significant given Murphy’s contractual situation. His current deal expires next summer, meaning Newcastle has passed on the opportunity to collect a substantial fee despite potentially losing him for nothing at the end of the season.
Sky Sports also reported that Forest made multiple attempts to sign Murphy and that Newcastle informed the winger it wanted him to remain at St. James’ Park.
Jaissle’s position appears to have been decisive. The German has been impressed by Murphy since taking charge and considers his experience and character particularly valuable within a squad that underwent enormous turnover this summer.
Murphy is now Newcastle’s longest-serving player, having arrived from Norwich City for £12 million (€14 million) in 2017. He has since made 267 appearances and became part of the club’s player leadership group under Eddie Howe, even wearing the captain’s armband on several occasions.
His importance also goes beyond the dressing room. Anthony Elanga has established himself as Jaissle’s first-choice option on the right wing, but Murphy remains the most experienced natural alternative and provides additional versatility when required.
That explains why Newcastle ultimately valued keeping him above collecting £15 million.
The Magpies have already taken a similar stance with Joe Willock. Sky Sports’ Keith Downie reported that Newcastle rejected offers for both players because Jaissle wants them to remain, despite each entering the final year of his contract.
Forest’s improved proposal made the Murphy decision considerably more difficult. Newcastle effectively turned down more than it originally paid for the winger nine years ago, knowing there is currently no guarantee of recovering anything next summer.
For Jaissle, however, Murphy’s value to this season’s squad evidently outweighs that financial risk.
Was Newcastle right to reject £15 million for Murphy, or was that simply too much money to turn down for a 31-year-old entering the final year of his contract? Let us know in the comments.
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