Newcastle United Interested in Awarding Their Most Improved Player With a New Deal

According to various sources, Steve Bruce is keen to offer Jacob Murphy with an improved contract to extend his stay at the Tyneside club.

Football Insider claims that the 26-year-old winger still has one-year left on his contract which is on the contrary to reports claiming his contract runs out this summer. But Insiders claims are very unlikely as Steve Bruce has revealed after Spurs game that he sincerely hopes that the Magpies are able to tie down Jacob Murphy down on fresh terms at the club.

With clubs such as Southampton, Rangers and a plethora of championship sides keen on the player, The club are now looking to offer Murphy with a new improved contract to fend off any potential suitors. The winger is currently on £25k-per-week wage bracket.

Murphy joined the Toon back in 2017 as a 21-year-old youngster after impressing at Norwich city, but he has just gone on to make 64 appearances for the Magpies while spending time on loan at championship sides West Brom and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.

The winger turned wing-back hasn’t been a much inspiration this season either being constantly in-and-out of the Starting XI. But it’s his recent impactful performances against Spurs and Burnley which have given both club hierarchy and Bruce a food for thought.

Murphy has scored 3 goals and laid 2 assists in 24 appearances he made this season of which only 13 were starts, his average goals and assists contribution comes out to be 0.45 goals per game and taking 1.2 shots per game which is decent from his wing-back position. He is also completing 1.5 successful dribbles a game which shows that he provides an added threat from the wing-back position.

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He really likes to cut inside and take on players to get to byline but his awkward crosses sometimes let him down. He’s not a conventional full-back whose only aim is to cross the ball into the box on contrast he’s more of a attacking wing-back who has a bit turn of pace, quickness and witty nature about him.

He developed one thing in his play when out on loan he reduced the number of wasteful crosses instead he now looks to cut inside, be direct to take the shot or look for a key pass this allows to open up spaces in opposition box this dynamism makes him harder to mark. He looks more for a short passes than crosses when in the final third, trying to make combinations. He can also put up a decent cross when needed but accuracy and quality may be an issue with him.

His hold up play, passing and aerial ability are the areas he need to improve upon to be better defensively.

The Newcastle Verdict

We as fans always wanted him to succeed at Tyneside from the start. Dubbed as the “Newcastle’s Sterling” in his early days, Murphy is a boyhood Newcastle United fan and gives his all for the Black-and-White strip and takes pride in the Badge.

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When he was brought to the club, I always find him one-dimensional but is talented and can produce some quality plays, but again wasteful and unproductive in the final third.

He is a bit of confidence player too, this can be observed when he was out on loan at West Brom he can’t make the cut even in the championship and the same player is ripping it up at Sheffield Wednesday. I watched him a bit when he was playing for Garry Monk side and he was integral to every attack they create despite being used as a wing-back.

This season even though he could not cement his spot in the Starting XI but he’s shown us glimpses of his talent and a bit of spark he can create, when he’s on the pitch.

He’s been superb this season whenever played at wing-back role I find him similar to Solly March at Brighton, a decent championship winger but not cut out for Premier League winger role. His notable performances against Aston Villa, Wolves and Burnley were all excellent.

With Christian Atsu leaving this summer it’s a no-brainer to hand Murphy with a new deal.

Tell us in comments below if Newcastle should hand Murphy a new contract or let him leave whenever his contract runs out.