Derby County are reportedly interested in signing Irish youngster Adam Murphy.
According to TEAMTalk, Derby are one of many clubs interested in the 18-year-old’s services.
The centre midfielder currently plays for St Patrick’s in the Irish top flight and has been excellent in his breakthrough season at the club.
The Ireland U21 international played 22 minutes of the Irish Cup final on the weekend, as they lifted the trophy, winning the game 3-1. His performances, including the one in the final, have brought a number of scouts from various clubs to take a look at him.
Some of the other clubs include Southampton, Crystal Palace and European champions Manchester City.
Bristol City are believed to have tried to sign him in the summer window, but a move did not come to fruition.
Murphy’s contract is set to expire at the end of the month, so he would be available on a pre-contract deal, with the club that gets him having to pay £200,000 to St Patrick’s to sign him.
Palace are said to have an advantage in that they have bought youngsters from Ireland before (Killian Phillips from Drogheda in 2022). Murphy and Phillips both also have the same agency, so Palace would already have a good relationship with them.
Can Derby sign Murphy?
In what would be a major coup for Paul Warne’s side, it is hard to see them being able to sway Murphy to a move to Pride Park.
With clubs like Man City and Palace interested, you can understand why Murphy would rather go to these clubs, as they are in the Premier League, not League One.
They would also be able to offer a lot more money than Derby can.
Derby are much more likely to lose the highly rated youngsters they already have than bring any in, with Darren Robinson recently linked with a move away.