Murphy Hopes Town and Sunderland Can Agree Fee
Monday, 22nd Mar 2010 07:17

On-loan striker Daryl Murphy says he wants to stay with the Blues and hopes Town and Sunderland can agree a fee for his services in the summer. The 27-year-old netted his sixth goal of his loan spell to give the Blues a 1-0 victory over Barnsley on Saturday.

Murphy, who has two years left on his Black Cats contract, confirmed that he’d love to still be with the Blues next season: “I want to stay here. Hopefully Ipswich will want me and a fee can be agreed. I want to play regular first team football and I want to play for Roy Keane.”

Last summer, Town and Sunderland agreed an undisclosed fee for Murphy but the deal broke down after Hull City made a late move. The Tigers confirmed that they had agreed a fee of £1.5 million rising to £2.5 million with the Black Cats for the striker and it's likely that the same figure was involved in the Town deal.

Wages are likely to be a further issue with Murphy probably on something approaching double Town's top wage, which is understood to be around the £12,000-a-week mark.

The Republic of Ireland international said had no problem with Town manager Roy Keane hitting out at his players after the defeat at Watford last week: "The gaffer was right to have a go at us. We didn't perform at Watford and too many of us didn't turn up. But we responded today by picking up three points.

“I appreciate his straight-talking. The players pulled together and showed what we can do when we’re on song.”

Murphy was delighted with Saturday’s goal, but says it was far from the trickiest of his career: "It was the easiest goal I have ever scored. It was so easy that I thought I might be offside, so I looked at the linesman just to make sure."

That goal took the former Waterford United man to six goals for Town, making him the Blues’ joint-top scorer for the season with Jon Walters and Jon Stead. Murphy joked: "If I get to seven goals do I get the Golden Boot?"

Meanwhile, former Blue John Deehan has joined ex-Town team-mate Neil Woods as his head of recruitment at Grimsby Town. Woods took over as manager at Blundell Park in November.

Photo: Action Images

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stinkiusminkius added 16:59 - Mar 22

I have to hold my hands up about Murphy as I was seriously underwhelmed about the prospect of getting him in, and he has done a top job (so far).

As for what he says about playing for Keane / Ipswich etc, I dont particularly listen to that, as I dont really believe much that any pro-footballers say, cos they all just give the corporate answers and say what is best at the time. How many times have you heard one say "I love this club, great manager" etc and then leave the next month, and suddenly they love the next club and the new manager and always wanted to play for them. And thats not a go at Murphy and Keane before you all start banging on, just an observation of footballers in general.

alfromcol added 17:23 - Mar 22 Well spotted 'tom the blue'. Still waiting for 'petersongoal' to give us a name!! Murphy would be a great signing, gets into good positions, Healy may well also perform well one he gets a few more games under his belt.
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jas0999 added 17:43 - Mar 22

I think Murphy has proved the doubters on here wrong. There were some really silly posts before the guy even kicked a ball. Although it may prove difficult for the Keane knockers to admit, but the stats show that Roy was right to sign Murphy and ship Stead out. No so many comments about how brilliant Stead is now is there? Murphy's goal scoring record firmly puts tead in the shade. I see Stead is back to his usual form at Coventry - scores a couple then doesn't for 5 or 6 games. Would prefer Murphy any day.

Re Colback - would love to see him here next year, but the reality is he won't be. A premiership player who will no doubt be playing for Sunderland next term

Guthrum added 19:15 - Mar 22

I'm interested by the fact he's now come out and declared he wants to stay. Interviewed after the game on Saturday, he was still rather evasive about the question (as he has been consistently, until now). Wondering if something's changed, or if negotiations have got to a stage where he can finally come out into the open about wanting to join Town (decent offer on the table?).

I say sign him up, as long as it doesn't mean destroying the clubs budgeting or dressing-room harmony. He has that valuable quality (rare amongst Town strikers of late) of being able to turn chances into real, actual, in-the-net goals!