Newcastle United are one of a host of clubs interested in highly rated free agent Luca Murphy, according to TEAMtalk.
The 17-year-old defender left Hartlepool United by mutual consent after failing to agree a new deal with the North-East club, and looks set to spark a scramble to secure his services and he looks for a new side.
Alongside the Magpies, it is understood that Manchester United, Tottenham, Leicester City, Cardiff City and Wolves have all and scouted the teenager closely in recent months, while EFL sides Leeds United, Middlesbrough, Brentford, Sheffield United, Barnsley and Sunderland are also said to be keen.
OPINION
Now that Murphy has left Hartlepool, there’s going an almighty scramble for his services, and it’s easy to see why. The young defender looks as if he could have what it takes to go a long, long way in the professional game, and the pack of clubs chasing his signature is testament to just how highly rated he is. Obviously, signing a 17-year-old is never a guaranteed way of finding the next big thing, but Murphy looks like he could grow into the real deal, and now that he is a free agent, it would hardly be a costly gamble to take on him. Ordinarily, Newcastle might struggle in a scrap like this with bigger and more southern clubs, but with Murphy at such a young age, and with him having just left a side relatively local to the Toon Army, they might actually have chance of stealing a march on their rivals and pulling a major coup.
