Carlton Palmer has spoken with FLW about Oxford United’s Josh Murphy being connected with Southampton, West Brom, Sunderland, QPR, and Hull.
Former England midfielder Carlton Palmer believes Josh Murphy would be a fantastic acquisition for any Championship club wanting to recruit him on a free transfer.
The Sun stated that five Championship clubs are looking to sign Murphy this summer.
The five clubs are said to be Southampton, West Brom, QPR, Sunderland, and Hull City, but they all face competition from teams in the MLS.
The 29-year-old joined Oxford United in 2022, and his current contract with the club expires at the conclusion of this season.
The League One side is hoping to be a Championship team themselves come the end of the season as they compete for a place in the play-offs.
But the club’s form and Murphy’s form have caught the attention of teams from the Championship, who could be set to make a move as his contract nears its end.
Carlton Palmer thinks Josh Murphy would be a good free transfer for any Championship club Here, we asked former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Carlton Palmer for his thoughts on Southampton, West Brom, QPR, Sunderland, and Hull City all being interested in signing Oxford United winger Josh Murphy.
It doesn’t surprise Palmer that clubs are looking at Murphy, and while he thinks the Premier League would be a step too far, he thinks he would be good business for any Championship club interested.
He told FLW: “Southampton, West Brom, QPR, Sunderland, and Hull City have all sent scouts in recent weeks to watch Oxford United’s Josh Murphy.
“Josh Murphy, who is playing for Oxford United, is having a fantastic season. Oxford sit in the final play-off place and are on an unbelievable run, with four wins and one draw in their last five games.
“Josh has been very instrumental in that run, scoring six goals in his last 12 games. He is 29, so he is an experienced player, and he joined Cardiff City from Norwich City for £11 million six years ago. But he has rediscovered his form; he is playing some excellent football.
“Listen, it is no surprise that these clubs are looking at him; he has been playing well, and he is out of contract at the end of the season, so he will be available on a free transfer.
“So, is he at that level? Well, he has played at that level before, and he is a talented player, and if he is available on a free, then it represents good business.
“I mean, the Premier League, we are talking a step too far, but the Championship, I don’t think, is a step too far for him. It just depends on what league these clubs are in, but if he is available on a free at Championship level, that would be good business for any Championship club bringing him in on a free.”
Josh Murphy’s 2023/24 League One stats
As Carlton Palmer states, Josh Murphy was once involved in a big transfer from Norwich to Cardiff City after impressing on a regular basis with the Canaries.
The move to join the Bluebirds started off okay, but he soon fell out of favour, and that resulted in him being sent out on loan before being allowed to leave when his contract expired.
Murphy then had to search for a new club, and he joined Oxford United, where it has turned out to be a decent move for his career.
The 29-year-old struggled at times last season, but under the new boss, he appears to have found his stride once more, as he hammers in goals and demonstrates his ingenuity.
Murphy has six goals in 25 League One games, including 15 starts. According to Sofascore.com, the former Norwich winger scores once every 233 minutes of play, or about 0.2 times every game.
In addition to the goals, Murphy has produced on the creative side, creating six great chances in League One and collecting 1.0 vital passes, which has helped him grab four assists.
Josh Murphy’s transfer chatter comes as a surprise.
The revelation that several Championship clubs are keen to recruit Oxford United’s Josh Murphy this summer is surprising.
Following a few rough seasons, the Norwich City academy graduate had to drop down a few divisions to rediscover his love of football.
Murphy joined Oxford in 2022, and he concluded the previous season without scoring a single league goal.
This season has improved, with the winger playing a key role in the U’s quest for a top-six finish. While he has impressed, it is surprising that Championship teams are interested in signing him, given his poor performance in his previous seasons in that division.
The guy has had a terrific season, but the Championship links appear weird, but someone who is scoring goals and assisting may be a solid pick-up for any team on a free transfer.
Leave a Reply