Newcastle United have turned down multiple offers from rivals Nottingham Forest for veteran winger Jacob Murphy.
Newcastle United have rejected multiple offers from Nottingham Forest for Jacob Murphy, with the Magpies making it clear that the experienced winger remains part of their plans despite having only a year left on his contract.
According to Sky Sports, Forest have made several attempts to prise Murphy away on deadline day, with their latest proposal worth £15 million being turned down. Newcastle had already rejected an opening £10 million offer from Forest last week, and the Tyneside club have now communicated to Murphy that they want him to remain at St. James’ Park.
The decision underlines the importance Newcastle place on Murphy, particularly following the arrival of new head coach Matthias Jaissle. The German manager reportedly views the 31-year-old as an important figure within the dressing room and does not want to lose his experience at this stage. It might have a lot to do with the fact that they have already lost a lot of experienced campaigners this summer.
Newcastle make their stance clear on Murphy’s future
Newcastle United’s stance is particularly notable given Murphy’s contract situation. The winger has entered the final year of his current deal, meaning the Magpies could risk losing him for nothing next summer. However, the club appear willing to take that gamble rather than sanction his departure before the transfer window closes.
Murphy has been an important squad player since joining Newcastle from Norwich City in 2017 for £12 million. He has since made 267 appearances for the club, while contributing towards 64 goals.
Last season, he featured 46 times across competitions, racking up over 2,200 minutes and registering nine goal contributions. Although he has started the new season from the bench in both Premier League matches, he remains a useful option for Jaissle.
His versatility is another reason behind Newcastle’s decision. Murphy can operate naturally on the right flank but is also capable of filling in on the left, giving Jaissle additional flexibility when managing his squad.
For Forest, the pursuit made sense. Oliver Glasner’s side have attacking quality but need depth in wide areas. Murphy’s Premier League experience, versatility and dressing-room presence could have made him an attractive addition.
However, Newcastle United have now made their position clear. Even though Forest pushed hard and offering as much as £15 million, the Magpies believe Murphy’s value to the squad outweighs the financial benefit of selling him in the final year of his contract.