After a rocky start in the Championship, the Newcastle ship has settled.
Their opening two games were defeats to Fulham and Huddersfield. They have since beaten Reading and Bristol City. Dwight Gayle was the chief force for Rafa Benitez in those two wins.
The Spaniard now wants to add more firepower and a more physical presence to his attacking options.
According to Ipswich website TWTD.co.uk, the man Benitez wants is Daryl Murphy.
Newcastle have already spent over £50 million this summer. Much of that has been offset by the sales of Georginio Wijnaldum, Andros Townsend and Daryl Janmaat.
Murphy would reportedly add another £5 million to their spend. He would join fellow Irish international Ciaran Clark at St. James Park. The Waterford player would also add substantial Championship nous to the Newcastle squad.
The 33-year-old was top scorer in the Championship with 27 goals in the 2014/15 season. That number decreased dramatically last season to 10. In four starts for Ipswich this season, Murphy is yet to score. Though, he did provide an assist as his side beat Barnsley 4-2 on the opening day of the season.
Ipswich's start to the Championship has been a pretty average one. After four games, they have five points. Still, they would expect to be fighting for promotion, likely via the playoffs, come the end of the season. Letting Murphy - a key part of their team - leave so close to the end of the transfer window would appear to be a move antagonistic to that objective.
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