Championship side West Bromwich Albion are close to sealing the loan signing of Newcastle United winger Jacob Murphy, according to Football Insider.
The outlet claims that Darren Moore is in the market for a new winger after seeing star man Harvey Barnes recalled by Leicester City earlier this month.
Magpies boss Rafael Benitez feels that he has enough cover in wide areas to allow the former Norwich City man, on a reported £25,000-per-week [Source: Spotrac], to depart.
A number of clubs were said to be interested in signing Murphy, but it appears that the Baggies are on the verge of loaning another Newcastle star, having signed Dwight Gayle in the summer.
OPINION
This seems like a move that would benefit all parties. Clearly Murphy isn’t getting the first team football that he needs to develop right now, while West Brom need another recruit to play out wide. It’s strange how Murphy’s career has gone on Tyneside, because it’s clear that the 23-year-old doesn’t lack talent. Perhaps it’s a confidence thing. He seems to have the pace and skill to go past players, but rarely does so. A loan spell away from St James’ Park could be just the thing to get his career back on track. The Hawthorns seems like it would be a good place for him, as well. The aforementioned Barnes and Gayle have both flourished under Moore’s tutelage this season, so there’s no reason to think that Murphy couldn’t as well. Whatever happens when/if the deal is done, he desperately needs a fresh start, and so this makes perfect sense on paper.
