Rafa Benitez is less than a month into his first ever stint as a Championship manager and already he is realising you need horses for courses players.
The Spaniard has identified as a horse [no offence intended] that could do some damage to opposition defences.
There are fresh reports in England, this morning, that Benitez wants to bring in 33-year-old Ipswich and Ireland striker Daryl Murphy before the transfer window closes on Wednesday.
Murphy has proved he is more than comfortable at Championship level. In his last three seasons with Ipswich, he has scored 50 league goals in 117 starts [eight sub appearances] and chipped in with 16 assists.
United have four forwards in their senior squad but only Ayoze Perez and Aleksandar Mitrović could be considered classic strikers. Mitrović is the only target man and he has a tendency to get booked and sent off.
Benitez, who was linked to a move for Murphy in July, feels the Waterford native could do a job for his team as they push for immediate promotion. Murphy’s international goalscoring record of 0 in 22 games obviously does not faze him.
Ipswich Star is reporting that Newcastle would have to pay in the region of £5m for Murphy. However, there are suggestions that the cost for Murphy could be reduced were Newcastle to loan Ipswich their promising 19-year-old striker Adam Armstrong for the season. Armstrong scored 20 goals in 40 League One games on loan with Coventry last season.
Earlier this summer, Benitez brought in Irish defender Ciaran Clark, from Aston Villa, for £5m. Ireland goalkeeper Robbie Elliot is on United’s books and will look to reclaim a starting spot when full fit again.
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