Anyone interested in the Championship transfer market will be finding it near impossible to avoid the rumours about top goalscorer Daryl Murphy’s potential move away from Ipswich Town with, it seems, half the Championship having been involved. The 32-year-old, who scored 27 league goals for the Tractor Boys last season, has attracted a lot of attention with Middlesbrough having become favourites to land the striker if he was to move. Ipswich remain determined to keep the striker at Portman Road despite these bids, and with striker having just signed a new two year contract, it looks like the speculation of Daryl Murphy’s future is at an end.
Last season was a rare season of goals for Murphy who had never before been a prolific striker, and so has attracted interest from several clubs, including a rumoured £4.5m move by Middlesbrough, declined by Ipswich. Although undeniably a big bid, which had persuaded some Ipswich fans to want to sell, refusing the bids of their Championship and, in particular, the bids of promotion rivals to keep Murphy, a key member of team that finished sixth, looks like it has been a strong move for Ipswich.
Daryl proved last season to be invaluable to the Ipswich team, not just through his goals but for the work his does for the team; chasing down long balls, putting defenders under pressure, winning balls in the air, holding the ball up, and everything else he does throughout every match which often goes unmentioned. He proved himself to be an essential part of the team as recognised both by the manager, Mick McCarthy, and the fans, winning him numerous accolades, including Ipswich’s Players’ Player of The Year, Supporters’ Player of the Year and being named second for Championship Player of the Season. Murphy is again expected to be an essential part of the first team this season, despite Brett Pitman adding to McCarthy’s striking options, joining David McGoldrick and Freddie Sears. Whether he can equal his impressive goals tally of last season is doubted, but he will remain key for Ipswich in the upcoming season, proving more than goals throughout.
Ipswich have already sold Tyrone Mings to Premier League newboys, Bournemouth, for £8m with winger Ryan Fraser and striker Brett Pitman going to other way, the former joining on a season-long loan and the latter permanently. This is a massive deal in which Ipswich have debatably have got the better part of the deal considering Mings, although full of potential, has only 57 professional appearances to his name, since joining from non-league Chippenham Town. This a large fee for Ipswich to receive and, having been given permission to spend this money in the transfer market, means they are not in a position where they need to sell. With the loss of Mings, a crucial player from the season just passed, it is important for Ipswich to retain as much of their squad as they can, with Murphy having played a crucial part in their sixth place finish, and that is exactly what Mick has done, boldly declining large bids.
As the season nears, Middlesbrough, the main contenders for Murphy’s signature, are amongst the favourites for promotion and with the competition for places in the top six in the league always hard to attain, it was questioned as to whether it can be risked to allow Daryl Murphy to move to one of Ipswich’s main promotion rivals. The transfer fee in this case cannot simply be seen as just a form of compensation for losing a player, but also about improving the quality of one of their competition, and McCarthy has shown a sign of intent by keeping Daryl Murphy at the club.
Although Ipswich have resisted high fees and that Daryl Murphy has signed a new contact at Ipswich, it is yet to be seen as to whether the interested sides will want to continue their pursuit of the striker, or whether that will end the speculation regarding a potential move. Daryl Murphy is of great importance to the team and would be big a loss to the squad if he were to leave, and it will be celebrated that he seems to be staying in Suffolk, rather than boosting our rivals in the hunt for promotion and a finish in the top six.
