OPINION
Jacob Murphy is surely destined for a summer exit from Newcastle United based on the fact Rafa Benitez has already had a conversation about how the signing of Miguel Almiron makes it difficult for him.
The 24-year-old is currently out on loan at West Bromwich Albion in the Championship and isn’t exactly knocking it out the park.
Murphy may have managed to feature eight times for the Baggies since arriving at the Hawthorns in January, but he hasn’t looked a level above England’s second tier, and that’s what he should be doing if he wants any chance of featuring for the Magpies next season.
Benitez was directly asked about the winger’s future and while he politely avoids closing the door on his return, the fact he made it clear that the player’s future would be considered was rather damning.
It was only made further damning when put in the context of Benitez’s other remarks which revealed the Magpies had spoken to Murphy about it being difficult for him at St James Park and that Almiron’s arrival would only make things worse.
“He needed to play, obviously young players need to play and get experience,” Benitez told the Chronicle.
“And it was difficult for him here.
“Bringing in Miguel Almiron was even more difficult.
“We spoke about that.
“He is a nice lad and a good professional so hopefully he can do well and then we will consider his future.”
While Almiron hasn’t set the world on fire since arriving at the Magpies, he has shown glimpses of his tremendous talent and seems to gel better with Salomon Rondon as well as Ayoze Perez like Murphy never could.
This means that Murphy’s chances of jumping Almiron in the pecking order are very slim and when you consider he only managed to make nine league appearances this season ahead of the Paraguayan arriving, that is pretty telling.
With this in mind it seems game over for Murphy at St James Park as unless there is drastic turn in events, he is heading straight out the exit door once he returns from his loan spell at WBA.
