Fulham are heavily linked with a potential summer move for Norwich City’s winger Josh Murphy, according to a report from Here is the City this morning.
The Canaries are keen to keep hold of their best players despite their Premier League parachute payments coming to an end this summer and it would take a significant bid to seriously test Norwich’s desire to retain the 23 year-old winger. They are bracing themselves for offers for Murphy’s services, with a whole clutch of clubs interested in tempting him to pastures new.
Fulham are known to be looking for wingers over the course of the summer as Slavisa Jokanovic seeks to strengthen his squad ahead of their return to the Premier League. Sheyi Ojo’s loan spell from Liverpool didn’t work out as successfully as both parties might have planned, whilst there remain doubts about whether Lucas Piazon will be back at Craven Cottage for another year as negotiations over a possible deal continue with Chelsea.
Murphy managed eleven goals in 47 appearances, including a superb strike in the Canaries’ league win over Aston Villa and a goal in the EFL Cup at Arsenal, and has been regarded as one of the division’s brightest prospects for several years. He could follow his twin brother, Jacob, who was sold to Newcastle this time last year, to the Premier League and Brighton boss Chris Hughton, who handed the youngster his professional debut against Watford in September 2013 when he scored as the Canaries came back from 2-0 down to win, is rumoured to be keen on taking him to the south coast.
The HITC report also identifies Middlesbrough, where Tony Pulis is seeking to add wide players to his squad for another promotion push, although that bid would be distinctly ambitious. Norwich are thought to need to sell before they can provide Daniel Farke will funds for a summer recruitment drive and Fulham have already been heavily linked with another of the club’s outstanding talents in playmaker James Maddison.
