Premier League manager makes transfer decision after attacker interested in joining Rangers
Jacob Murphy will not be allowed to leave Newcastle on loan this season, following reports linking him with a move to Rangers.
Steve Bruce has said that Murphy, 25, ‘deserves’ to stay at Newcastle, following the winger’s impressive performance in Newcastle’s 7-0 demolition of Morecambe in the Carabao Cup, in which Murphy registered a goal and an assist.
Rangers were first linked to Murphy in the Herald, with the Glasgow Times reporting two weeks ago that Murphy was ‘interested in a move to Ibrox’.
Speaking after the Morecambe game, Bruce said “I won’t be letting him out on loan. He deserves to stay with us and he’s improved enormously.
“He’s had a really good pre-season and has shown a great attitude. He’s benefited from being out on loan last season and has really given us food for thought.”
Murphy spent last season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, scoring nine goals and registering six assists in 39 appearances in the Championship. The ex-Norwich winger joined Rafael Benitez’s Newcastle in 2017, in a deal worth around £10 million.
Murphy has struggled to establish himself in Newcastle’s starting XI since his move, only making 34 league appearances for the Magpies. But he has shown glimpses of quality on occasion. Most notably when he chipped Manchester City goalkeeper Ederson at the Etihad to score a brilliant solo goal.
Speaking earlier this month, Alex McLeish told Ibrox News that he thought Murphy ‘could do something’ in Scotland, saying, ‘He’s quite a sharp player and I’m sure he would enhance the Rangers setup if he was part of the squad’.
Steven Gerrard looks keen to add attackers to his squad ahead of the closure of the transfer window on October 5. It has been reported that Preston’s Daniel Johnson could join Rangers soon, with the club wanting the deal done before the Gers take on Motherwell this weekend.
However, Steve Bruce’s comments end any hope of Rangers bringing Murphy to Ibrox, meaning we could see the Gers switch their attention to other targets in the last few days of the transfer window.
In other Rangers news, ‘Would be brilliant’: Willem II star makes it personal as he looks to dump Rangers out of Europe.