Carlton Palmer believes that Josh Murphy would be a valuable acquisition for any Championship club seeking to sign him on a free transfer. This opinion follows reports from The Sun indicating interest from five Championship clubs in acquiring Murphy during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The interested clubs reportedly include Southampton, West Brom, QPR, Sunderland, and Hull City, although they face competition from MLS teams as well. Murphy, a 29-year-old winger, joined Oxford United in 2022, and his current contract with the club is set to expire at the end of the season.
While Oxford United aims to secure promotion to the Championship through the playoffs, both the club’s performance and Murphy’s individual form have attracted attention from Championship clubs, possibly leading to a move as his contract approaches its conclusion.
Carlton Palmer thinks Josh Murphy would be a good free transfer for any Championship club
Carlton Palmer shared his thoughts on the interest of Southampton, West Brom, QPR, Sunderland, and Hull City in signing Oxford United winger Josh Murphy. Palmer expressed that it’s not surprising that clubs are eyeing Murphy due to his excellent performance this season. While Palmer believes the Premier League might be a bit too challenging for Murphy at this stage, he thinks Murphy would be a valuable addition for any Championship club interested in signing him.
According to Palmer, the clubs mentioned have sent scouts to watch Murphy in recent weeks. He highlighted Murphy’s impact on Oxford United’s recent successful run, with the team currently occupying the final playoff spot and enjoying a string of positive results. Murphy’s contribution includes six goals in his last 12 games, showcasing his experience and talent at 29 years old.
Palmer noted Murphy’s previous stint in the Premier League with Cardiff City after a significant transfer from Norwich City six years ago. Although Murphy has rediscovered his form at Oxford United, Palmer believes that while the Premier League might be too ambitious, the Championship would be a suitable level for Murphy. Moreover, considering Murphy’s availability on a free transfer at the end of the season, Palmer sees it as a smart move for any Championship club to secure Murphy’s services without a transfer fee.
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.
| Josh Murphy’s 2023/24 League One stats for Oxford United | Total |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 25 |
| Minutes per game | 56 |
| Goals | 6 |
| Goal frequency | 233 minutes |
| Goals per game | 0.2 |
| Assists | 4 |
| Big chances created | 6 |
| Key passes | 1.0 |
| Successful dribbles | 0.9 (36%) |
| Average rating | 7.02 |
| Stats as per Sofascore.com (As it stands on the 15th of April) | |
The 29-year-old struggled at times last season, but under the new manager, he now seems to have found his groove once again, as he bangs in the goals and is showing his creativity.
So far, Murphy has six goals in 25 League One appearances, 15 of which have come as starts. The former Norwich winger is averaging a goal every 233 minutes of football, and a goal comes 0.2 times per game, per Sofascore.com.
As well as the goals, Murphy has produced on the creative side, as he’s created six big chances in League One, as well as collecting 1.0 key passes, which has helped him grab four assists.
Josh Murphy transfer talk comes as a surprise
The news of several Championship clubs showing interest in signing Josh Murphy from Oxford United this summer is indeed surprising. Murphy, a product of the Norwich City academy, has had to take a step down to rediscover his passion for football after facing challenges in recent campaigns.
Joining Oxford United in 2022, Murphy struggled last season, failing to score any league goals. However, he has shown improvement this campaign, playing a crucial role in Oxford’s push for a top-six finish. Despite his improved performances, it’s unexpected that Championship teams are pursuing him, considering his struggles in the division in previous seasons.
While the Championship links may seem peculiar given Murphy’s recent history, his ability to contribute goals and assists makes him an appealing prospect for any team, especially on a free transfer. This season has been impressive for Murphy, and his form suggests he could be a valuable addition to any side willing to take a chance on him.
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